Sale’s last contract guaranteed him $27.5 million through 2024, with a $20 million club option for 2025. However, $10 million of that amount was deferred, reducing the present value down to about $20–21 million. Sale’s current guarantee is increased to $16 million in 2024 and $22 million in 2025 as a result of the new agreement. Additionally, the Braves include a buyout-free $18 million club option for 2026.

When the Braves sent their best hitting prospect, Vaughn Grissom, to the Red Sox in exchange for Sale and $17 million, they made it evident that they were committed to Sale, who turns 35 on March 30. Although the money will cover this year’s salary, Atlanta’s 2025 Sale commitment and 2026 option purchase provide the team stability because their pitching rotation will almost certainly alter.

The team’s longest-serving starter, left-hander Max Fried, will become a free agent after 2024 and may fetch a contract worth more than $200 million, which the Braves are unlikely to be able to afford. Charlie Morton, a 40-year-old right-hander, may retire.

The Braves turned to Sale in the hopes that he would help guide the next round of Atlanta pitchers, which includes AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Bryce Elder, because Spencer Strider was the only rotation mainstay signed up past this season.

After a four-year slump that derailed what once appeared to be a likely Hall of Fame career, Sale made a comeback in 2023. 2019 saw Sale begin to decline after seven straight All-Star appearances, top-six Cy Young finishes, and the signing of a five-year, $145 million contract extension with the Red Sox. After having Tommy John surgery in 2020 and missing the majority of 2021, he only started two games in 2022 due to back problems, a broken finger, and a broken wrist.

Last year, across 20 starts, Sale had a 4.30 ERA over 102⅔ innings, 125 strikeouts, and just 29 walks. His stuff held up well enough that Atlanta made an investment on one of the best pitchers in baseball, knowing full well the expense of starting pitching in free agency.

Sale has a record of 120-80, a 3.10 ERA over 1,780⅔ innings, 2,189 strikeouts, and more than five walks given up. Sale continues to own the record for most strikeouts per nine innings (11.1) among starters.

With Sale joining Strider, Fried, and Morton in the rotation—along with a terrific lineup that includes Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr.—the Braves are strong favourites to win the NL East for the seventh straight year.