CHICAGO _ Chris Sale maneuvered through the White Sox clubhouse Tuesday afternoon with a brown bag swinging from the handlebars of his scooter.
Before what likely will be his final start this season _ and what could be his last in a White Sox uniform if the team chooses to shop Sale during the offseason _ the All-Star left-hander arrived bearing gifts before his team's 13-6 victory against the Rays.
After securing a parking spot, he hoofed it to a few of his teammates' lockers, left behind FIFA 2017 soccer video games and jokingly referred to himself as Santa Claus.
Many more times than not during his seven seasons with the Sox, Sale has been the gift that has given the White Sox reason for optimism.
But he wasn't as sturdy as normal Tuesday, when he allowed three runs on eight hits with a hit batsman and seven strikeouts in seven innings. So his teammates returned the gift-giving gesture by giving him plenty of run support, including three-run homer from Leury Garcia and a two-run shot from Melky Cabrera.
The ultimate prize was his 17th victory, which tied a career high in a season sprinkled with doses of lows, highs and downright bizarres.
Sale called out team executive vice president Ken Williams and accused him of lying during spring training after Adam LaRoche suddenly retired when he was told his son would not be welcome virtually full-time in the clubhouse like he had been in 2015.
In late July, Sale was suspended for five days without pay after he cut up some throwback jerseys the team was supposed to wear for his start July 23.
In between, he started the season 9-0, started the All-Star Game for the American League and set a career high in innings pitched with 221 2/3. There's a possibility he could start Sunday's season finale against the Twins.
If he doesn't, he will finish the year 17-9 with 227 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA.
The 27-year-old has three years and $39.5 million remaining on the team-friendly extension he signed before the 2013 season, making the Sox's single-season record-holder for strikeouts attractive trade bait.
Sale has expressed his desire to win with the White Sox, but their offseason plans remain a mystery from manager Robin Ventura, whose contract expires after this season.
Sale and Ventura have had it out a few times during their time together. But Ventura said that ultimately, Sale, the longest-tenured pitcher on the staff, has emerged as a leader.
"Yeah, we've had some fun ones," Ventura said. "He has grown up here ... he's the lead guy and the anchor.
"Some (conflict) gets blown out of proportion. Him and I, we have frank conversations. That's part of having a healthy relationship, you can say what you want to say. But at the end of the day we know we're pulling for the same things."
One of Sale's teammates, Adam Eaton, said he hopes Sale is back in a Sox uniform next season.
"If he puts his mind to anything, he'll see it through. I think we've seen that on and off the field," said Eaton, who doubled on the first pitch he saw Tuesday in his first game since crashing into the outfield wall in Cleveland on Friday. "Not making him mad or anything, but when we goes out there and wants to go eight innings, it's going to be tough to stop him. ... I'm glad he's on my (team) on and off the field."
Whether he remains Eaton's teammate remains to be seen.
