Cubs On Verge of Signing Davis, White Sox Deal Sale

By ESPN

The Cubs moved to the verge of a deal for Royals closer Wade Davis Tuesday evening, although sources made clear that the trade is not complete and both teams still have to OK the medical information.

It was not immediately known exactly what the Cubs would give up in return for Davis, but a source told ESPN's Jesse Rogers that if a trade is completed, it is expected to include Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler.

Davis, who has a 1.18 ERA over the past three seasons, with three homers allowed, had arm trouble that forced him to the disabled list, and he was limited to 43⅓ innings in 2016. Davis, 31, made 10 appearances for the Royals after returning from the DL in September.

Davis is set to make $10 million in 2017, before becoming eligible for free agency. After the terms for the new collective bargaining agreement were negotiated last week, the Royals have evaluated the impact of the new rules and have decided to market some veterans. Besides Davis, first baseman Eric Hosmer, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and third baseman Mike Moustakas are also eligible for free agency after the 2017 season.

Hector Rondon served as the Cubs' closer in 2016 before the team traded for Aroldis Chapman on July 26, and Chapman took over the role for the rest of the season, as the Cubs won the World Series. Chapman is a free agent, and on Monday, he told ESPN's Marly Rivera that he has not heard from the Cubs since he became a free agent.

The Cubs have been talking to teams and agents about smaller deals, rather than big free-agent contracts for the likes of Chapman or Kenley Jansen.

Sale Heads From White Sox to Red  Sox

Chris Sale will be pitching for the Sox next season, but in Boston rather than Chicago, after the ace left-hander was traded to the Red Sox, the teams announced Tuesday.

"The ability to get a Chris Sale doesn't come along very often,'' Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.

The White Sox will receive highly touted infield prospect Yoan Moncada, pitching prospect Michael Kopech and minor leaguers Luis Alexander Basabe and Victor Diaz.

"When you trade a pitcher of Chris Sale's ability, it can only be because we were motivated by an impactful return of young talent, and we have more than accomplished that," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "We believe each of those players can be part of a quality core of future championship caliber White Sox teams."

Dombrowski said that the trade talks between the two sides began in earnest last Friday after baseball's new labor deal was reached, and they heated up from there.

"I think it's a situation where if you have a chance to win you go for every opportunity you can." Dombrowski said in a news conference. "Any time you can make the playoffs, you go for it."

Sale, 27, is coming off his fifth straight All-Star season in 2016, when he finished 17-10 with 233 strikeouts in 226⅔ innings pitched.