Seven-time All-Star Chris Sale is reportedly a player that the Boston Red Sox have been getting trade calls about in recent days.

Sale’s tenure in Boston has been a mixed bag. After acquiring the Chicago White Sox ace in a trade before the 2017 season, Sale proved to be exactly what the team was looking for as he earned All-Star honors his first two seasons. However, things went downhill fast in year three.

Sale had a shockingly bad showing after signing a five-year, $145 million contract extension with the Red Sox before the 2019 season. He posted a 6-11 record and an uncharacteristic 4.40 ERA in 25 starts and ended the season on injured reserve with elbow inflammation. That was the start of a major injury-led fall from grace that was punctuated by Tommy John surgery in 2020.

While he has been solid in his performances since the surgery and recovery, he has been unable to take the mound much and has only made 11 starts in the last two seasons. That is why it is not surprising that the Boston Red Sox are willing to listen to trade offers on the pitcher that is still owed $75 million over the next three seasons.

On Sunday, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that teams around the league have reached out to the Boston Red Sox to see if Chris Sale could be available this offseason.

“Teams are checking on Chris Sale’s availability. Red Sox are not looking to trade any of their starters but view rotation as an area of depth and are at least willing to listen and consider. Sale does have a complete no-trade clause so he can veto potential deals.”– Chris Sale trade report

If the Red Sox were willing to trade their former ace, these are the five teams he would likely waive his no-trade clause to go to.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are all in on trying to win a World Series title in the next couple of years. They showed that by trading for Juan Soto last summer, and by signing Xander Bogaerts to a massive deal in December. They have reportedly been looking to add more pitching, and they could view Sale as a worthwhile risk in pursuit of the final piece in a championship puzzle.