Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale has informed the team that he won't opt out of the final two years of his five-year, $145 million deal, as expected. Both Sale and the Red Sox will now be hoping that he can remain healthy, something he hasn't been able to do for the first three years of his contract. The 33-year-old southpaw has thrown just 48 1/3 innings (11 starts) for Boston in the last three years due to injury. Tommy John surgery kept him off the mound for all of the shortened 2020 season and most of last year, and he only made two appearances in 2022 before requiring season-ending wrist surgery. Sale is expected to be recovered in time for spring training next year, but he'll be an extreme risk/reward pick for fantasy managers given his injury history.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (wrist) underwent season-ending surgery on Monday after injuring his wrist during a bicycle accident on Saturday. The surgery was officially described as an open reduction and internal fixation of a right distal radius (wrist) fracture. Sale is expected to be ready for the start of spring training next year. The 33-year-old southpaw got a late start to the season while dealing with a rib-cage injury, then he needed surgery to fix a broken left pinkie finger that was hit by a line drive in just his second start of the year. Since 2020, Sale has made just 11 starts for Boston due to an assortment of injuries. It's good news that he's expected to be ready next spring, but he's becoming an extreme injury risk at this stage of his career.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (finger) has started playing catch again, according to manager Alex Cora. However, the Red Sox haven't given a timetable for his return after having surgery on July 18, which was described as an "open reduction and internal fixation of a left fifth finger proximal phalarix fracture." Sale broke his left pinkie finger on a line drive against the division-rival New York Yankees in just his second start of the year on July 17. The 33-year-old southpaw got a late start to the 2022 season due to injured ribs, and now fantasy managers will have to wait for him again in what has been another lost season due to injuries. Sale is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues, but it remains to be seen how much he'll help down the stretch.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale (finger) left his start early on Sunday against the division-rival New York Yankees with a left fifth finger fracture. Sale was smoked by a comebacker off the bat of outfielder Aaron Hicks in the first inning of his start. He allowed two earned runs on two hits with no walks or strikeouts in just two-thirds of an inning. It's a tough break for the 33-year-old veteran, as this was just his second start of the season since returning from a fractured rib cage. There's no timetable for Sale's return, but fantasy managers have to expect him to miss extended time with his latest injury, possibly multiple months. If surgery is needed, Sale could miss the rest of the season. Prepare for the worst if you have him rostered.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) is set to make his season debut on Tuesday, according to manager Alex Cora. The left-hander struggled during his last rehab outing, but apparently feels good enough to return. The Red Sox are likely to have Sale on a pitch count during his first outing. The Tampa Bay Rays aren't an ideal team to pitch against, but Sale is usually an elite pitcher when healthy. Fantasy managers should make sure to have Sale back in their lineups on Tuesday. His second start is scheduled against the New York Yankees, so Sale could come out of the gate slowly.

Boston Red Sox skipper Alex Cora said that starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) will pitch somewhere next Tuesday, "but there's a good chance he'll pitch with us," which would be against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sale is attempting to return from a stress fracture on the right side of his rib cage that he suffered in mid-March. Although the 33-year-old left-hander walked five hitters in 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday in his latest minor league rehab start, he looks to be fully healthy and ready to go. If he does indeed make his season debut next Tuesday for Boston, it'll be his first major league start since last year's playoffs. Sale will be extra risky in his first start back in the bigs, but when healthy, he has ace potential for fantasy managers.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale (rib) allowed one earned run on three hits and five walks while striking out five across 3 2/3 innings during Wednesday's rehab start for Triple-A Worcester. The 33-year-old threw 72 pitches, landing just 42 for strikes. Boston was hoping the southpaw would throw 4-to-5 innings on Wednesday, but Sale struggled to find the plate by issuing five walks. The Red Sox could activate Sale from the 60-day injured list on Monday, July 11, ahead of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Sale as the Red Sox ace is close to returning to action. Sale has always dealt with injuries over the past few seasons, but when healthy has proven to be one of the most reliable starters in baseball.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) will make his next minor league rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Worcester, and although a decision hasn't been made, it could end up being his last rehab start before making his season debut for the Red Sox. There's a chance that Sale could make his first start this year on July 11 against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 33-year-old left-hander got through four innings in his rehab start for Double-A on Thursday, and the Red Sox are hoping he can get through five frames on Wednesday. He has looked fully healthy so far, which is great news for fantasy managers that have been stashing Sale all season long to this point. Sale has dealt with injuries over the last several seasons, but he still has ace potential when he's right.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) had a strong minor league rehab start for Double-A Portland on Thursday, allowing four hits and one run while walking none and striking out seven in four innings pitched. Sale threw 36 of his 52 pitches for strikes, and the only question now is whether the left-hander will make one or two more rehab starts before making his 2022 season debut. The 33-year-old southpaw was scheduled to only go three innings on Thursday. If Sale can avoid a setback in his next rehab outing, he could put himself on track to rejoin Boston's rotation on July 10 or 11. Sale has made only nine starts in the last two seasons due to injuries, but the seven-time All-Star has ace-like ability when he's right.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) worked into the third inning in his second minor league rehab outing on Saturday in the Florida Complex League. Sale went 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, hitting a batter, walking none and striking out six. There's no pitch count in the box score, but it was a successful outing for Sale, who has yet to pitch in the majors in 2022. The 33-year-old southpaw is slowly building up his workload, and he could rejoin Boston's rotation for the start of the second half of the season in mid-July. The seven-time All-Star has become a pretty big injury risk and he has made just nine starts since 2019, but he needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues as he gets closer to his season debut.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) is expected to make one more minor league rehab start in the Florida Complex League this week before he heads to a full-season affiliate to continue his rehab assignment. Sale's next rehab start in the FCL is expected to come this Saturday after he felt fine while throwing 22 pitches for the Rookie-level affiliate on Monday. The 33-year-old left-hander will continue to build up his arm in preparation for his 2022 season debut. The seven-time All-Star should be stashed in all fantasy leagues for the second half of the season, but make sure to temper expectations, at least initially, keeping in mind that he's thrown all of 42 2/3 innings since 2019 due to injuries.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment in Fort Myers on Monday. Sale has not pitched yet this season as he has been recovering from a stress fracture in his rib suffered during Game 5 of the ALCS last October. As manager Alex Cora told reporter on Thursday, Sale will come back to the Red Sox as a starter, not in the bullpen. Sale will probably need several rehab outings to get his arm ready before he's able to return to the big leagues.

While Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) could be used in relief when he makes his 2022 season debut, the team ideally views him as a starter. All 93 of his regular season appearances since joining Boston in 2017 have come as a starter, but "everything is on the table" as far as his role when he comes off the injured list, according to pitching coach Dave Bush. Bringing Sale back as a fully built-up starter is the team's preferred plan, but the option of allowing him to build up in the majors in a relief role remains possible. The fact that Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock are currently injured won't impact Sale's role. The 33-year-old southpaw still needs to go on a minor league rehab assignment before returning and could pitch out of the bullpen initially with the BoSox, but he needs to be rostered everywhere and could be a dominant starter for fantasy managers before the season is over.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) threw a bullpen session on Friday and will throw to live hitters for the first time on Monday. Manager Alex Cora said Sale might resume his rehab with the Red Sox in Boston next week if all goes well with the live session on Monday. Sale will probably need to throw two or three live batting practice sessions before he starts a minor league rehab assignment. The left-hander started the year on the 60-day injured list after suffering a stress reaction in his right rib cage. The 33-year-old seven-time All-Star has yet to pitch in 2022 and has made just nine starts in the last two seasons, but he needs to remain stashed in all fantasy formats for his high-end upside when healthy. There's a change the Red Sox could bring Sale back in relief initially, which would obviously limit his fantasy appeal.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) could possibly return as a relief pitcher, according to pitching coach Dave Bush. Sale is set to face live hitters on Friday for the first time since suffering his rib injury three months ago. It sounds like we're at the point where Sale needs to face live hitters. That being said, the Red Sox are considering using Sale out of the bullpen initially until he builds up more strength. It is all dependent on how Sale is feeling and what he believes he's capable of doing. Possibly, Garrett Whitlock returns to the bullpen once Sale gets back in the starting rotation. Fantasy managers aren't going to get great fantasy value from Sale while pitching out of the bullpen.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday followed by a live batting practice on Friday. This is all part of the rehab process as Sale works his way back to the Red Sox rotation. The 33-year-old lefty has been out since the beginning of spring training with a stress fracture in his ribs. He's expected to rejoin the club at some point in July, barring any setbacks.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) is expected to throw a bullpen session in the next few days and could face live hitters sometime next week. Sale suffered a hairline fracture in his rib cage before the season but has been ramping up his activity of late. The team has yet to indicate when he will start a rehab stint but Sale will presumably need to make several starts in the minors before being ready to take the mound in a big-league capacity. Sale made nine starts for the Red Sox in 2021, posting a 5-1 record, 3.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts over 42 2/3 innings of work.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday with no issues. He is expected to throw another bullpen session on Friday and could face live hitters. The 33-year-old has been sidelined all season due to a stress fracture in his ribcage. He continues to progress in his recovery and could begin a minor league rehab assignment soon. Barring any setbacks, the southpaw will join Boston's rotation once activated from the 60-day injured list. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Sale in all league formats.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (rib cage) threw close to 25 pitches in a bullpen session on Friday, and the plan is for him to work off the mound three times next week. Sale could go on a minor league rehab assignment by the week of June 6. Sale also threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday in which he used all of his pitches, and he's quickly building up his arm after dealing with a stress reaction in his rib cage that has sidelined him all year. The 33-year-old southpaw could make his season debut in Boston's starting rotation in late June, barring any setbacks. Sale missed all of the 2020 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he made only nine starts for Boston last year.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) threw another 15-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday, mixing in sliders, changeups, and fastballs. He is expected to throw 25 pitches in a bullpen session on Friday. If everything goes well during Friday's session, he will throw another bullpen session before progressing to live batting practice. The 33-year-old has been sidelined all season due to a stress fracture in his right rib cage and has no timetable for a return. Sale should continue to be stashed in all league formats after posting a 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 52:12 K: BB across 42 2/3 innings in 2021.