CHICAGO, IL.– Chicago White Sox Pitcher Chris Sale has been suspended for five games without pay by the team after an incident in which Sale destroyed the team’s throwback uniforms after protesting wearing them.
According to FOXNews, Sale cut up the uniforms and was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday before being handed his suspension on Sunday.
His fine will be for $250,000 and he will also be charged $12,700 for the cost of the jerseys he destroyed.
It is being reported that Sale protested the 1976-style jerseys, which were navy and had unusual collars for a hot and humid night. Sale proceeded to cut up an unknown number of jerseys before the game and was told to leave the stadium. With not enough usable 1976 jerseys available, the White Sox wore white throwback uniforms from the 1983 season.
This incident comes just over a week before the MLB Trade Deadline, and Sale’s name has now become a prominent one in trade rumors.
However, White Sox General Manager, Rick Hahn has disputed the notion that Sale is on the trading block.
“The actions or behaviors of the last 24 hours does not change in any aspect, any respect, our belief that Chris Sale can help this club win a championship and win multiple championships,” Hahn said. “It does not move the needle one iota in terms of his value to this club, his value to any other club that may be interested in his services or the likelihood of him being moved or kept whatsoever. None of that stuff is impacted at all by these events.”
