It has officially sunk in; Chris Sale is a Red Sox. Everyone knew it was going to take a lot to land a type of deal for the 27 year old, 5-time all-star, lefty pitcher.

From trade talks before the deadline of last season, all the way until yesterday, the different combinations of trade pieces that were flying around were definitely worrisome. Yoan Moncada was always going to be a part of the deal, but to go along with him, names like Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Eduardo Rodriguez were also flying around in talks. To say that these talks had fans a little on edge was definitely an understatement.

However, yesterday all the trade rumors were put to rest, as the deal was officially made. Chris Sale is heading to Boston for:

• Yoan Moncada – a switch-hitting second basemen who is expected to become a five-tool player
• Michael Kopech – a pitcher with a 100+ MPH fastball who has been compared to Noah Syndergaard
• Luis Basebe – a switch-hitting outfielder
• Victor Diaz – a hard throwing RHP projected to fill a back-end reliever role

However, although the list seems as if the Red Sox lost a lot of young talent, which they most certainly did, it could have been much worse. The Red Sox were able to keep their entire starting roster in tact and realistically only lost one player who would see playing time in 2017, that being Moncada. After his 8-game stint in the pros, he had a slash line of .211/ .250/. 263, showing that he still had a lot to work on and was realistically going to start the year back down in Triple-A.

Knowing Dave Dombrowski’s history of depleting farm systems and trading for the present rather than setting up for the future, the Red Sox came out of it still in good shape, knowing the other prospects and young players that could have very easily been lost in the trade are still here.

It is clear the mindset that Dombrowski had when attending the Winter Meetings and that was setting up the team, not for success in the future, but the present. He has most certainly done that. As a result of yesterday, the next three years seem very bright for the Red Sox. However, after that leaves a question mark for the future with losing Moncada, Kopech, and even Mauricio Dubon (Tyler Thornburg trade for Mauricio Dubon and Travis Shaw).

Now the top 10 Red Sox prospects after yesterday looks as such (according to SoxProspects.com):

1. Andrew Benintendi, OF
2. Rafael Devers, 3B
3. Jason Groome, P
4. Sam Travis, 1B
5. Brian Johnson, P
6. Marco Hernandez, 3B/SS/2B
7. Bobby Dalbec, 3B
8. CJ Chatham, SS
9. Josh Dockimey, 1B
10. Michael Chavis, 3B

Make of it what you will, but if you ask me, let’s focus on winning another championship in the next three years, and then we can reflect on this trade and potentially regret it if that doesn’t happen. But, as of now, all we can do is wait to determine whether or not this was one hell of a trade or a bust.

Let’s Win. Now.