Red Sox acquire Sale for Moncada, 3 others

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Red Sox have struck for a blockbuster trade that makes an already solid team a potentially fearsome one, acquiring lefty ace Chris Sale from the White Sox on Tuesday for a four-prospect package that includes infielder Yoan Moncada. Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced the trade.

The Red Sox will also send highly touted pitching prospect Michael Kopech, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe and right-hander Victor Diaz to Chicago. Moncada is the top-ranked prospect in the game, according to MLB Pipeline.com.

As recently as Monday, Dombrowski said he didn’t feel a driving force to add a starting pitcher.

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But he did anyway, making the latest mega-deal of his career. Over the years, Dombrowski has traded for marquee players like Gary Sheffield while with Marlins; Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, David Price and Ian Kinsler during his stint with the Tigers; and Craig Kimbrel last year for Boston.

After landing Price a year ago in free agency, the Red Sox have now added a five-time All-Star in Sale who is in the prime of his career at 27 years old. The rotation also includes American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, lefties Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz and veteran Clay Buchholz.

Chris Sale’s college coach just sent me this. Says he’s so excited to join @RedSox pic.twitter.com/l3mThCWn1t

— Chelsa Messinger (@ChelsaMessinger) December 6, 2016

Chris Sale’s college coach just sent me this. Says he’s so excited to join @RedSox pic.twitter.com/l3mThCWn1t

With the acquisition of Sale, the Red Sox could seek to move Buchholz’s $13.5 million salary to move some money off the payroll.

Considering the cost of elite starting pitchers, Sale’s contract that the Red Sox inherit is a bargain, which explains why the player compensation was so …

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