The Chicago White Sox officially reinstated starting pitcher Chris Sale on Thursday after he served a five-day team-imposed suspension.
MLB Roster Moves confirmed the change in Sale's roster status. The ace is scheduled to start for the White Sox Thursday night against John Lackey and the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs.
The reinstatement brings an end to one of the season's most bizarre stories. Tommy Stokke of Today's Knuckleball first reported the details of the "clubhouse incident," which saw Sale cut up all of the team's throwback jerseys because he didn't want to pitch in them.
Katie Strang of ESPN.com passed along a statement from White Sox general manager Rick Hahn about the situation and subsequent suspension Sunday: "Chris has been suspended for violating team rules, for insubordination and for destroying team equipment. While we all appreciate Chris' talent and passion, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to express concerns about team rules and organizational expectations."
Sale explained his decision to destroy the jerseys during a conversation with Scott Merkin of MLB.com on Monday. He stated the uniforms would have caused a negative impact on the team and wasn't happy with how the team handled his concerns:
When I saw that there was something in the way of that 100 percent winning mentality, I had an issue. I tried to bring it up and say, 'Hey listen, these are my thoughts and concerns,' and they got pushed away because of the business deal that was set in place. I'll never understand why we need to do something on the business side on the field that might impede us winning a game.
The 27-year-old left-hander, who's been the focus of trade rumors leading up to the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline, noted the incident didn't change his long-term outlook.
"I want to win a championship in Chicago. That's been my goal from Day 1," Sale told MLB.com. "It has never changed. I only get more passionate about it because I know that it's not easy winning a championship. There's a lot that goes into it."
The White Sox sent down Anthony Ranaudo, who allowed three earned runs in 6.2 innings as part of an 8-1 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday, to clear the necessary spot on the 25-man roster, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Meanwhile, if Chicago does plan on at least entertaining offers for Sale, Thursday night's start will mark his final audition before Monday's deadline. It's going to take a king's ransom to pry him away from the South Siders, however, even when taking his recent antics into account.
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