Chris Sale rumor season never died, it just went to sleep after last summer's trade deadline. Now it has woken up with a start and no other trade rumors are quite as fun as Chris Sale trade rumors. We're talking about one of the best players in baseball. We're talking about someone signed to a bargain contract, and we're talking about someone who could realistically be dealt within a couple of weeks.
It's rare that a rumor set can check all three boxes. The Cole Hamels rumors way back when? That set checked two boxes. His contract wasn't and isn't so cheap. Talk about the Rockies moving Nolan Arenado? Two boxes: not realistic and more of a fantasy.
Sale is a fantasy-level target, plus the White Sox appear more motivated to move him than ever. All other rumors step aside. These rumors are the best ones.
All right -- just what could it take to actually land Chris Sale? It's easy to say it would take a blockbuster. It's easy to say the White Sox would need to be blown away. It's easy to say someone would need to empty the farm. In the space below, I want to assemble some legitimate, specific packages. And beyond that, I want to do so while barely touching any major league rosters.