Atlanta (AP) Chris Sale, a 34-year-old left-hander, accepted a deal to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, which sent infielder Vaughn Grissom to Boston, ending his injury-plagued career with the Red Sox.
Additionally, Boston is providing financial support to the Braves to partially cover the seven-time All-Star’s $27.5 million salary that is due in 2024βthe last guaranteed season of a $160 million, six-year contract. $10 million of that 2024 pay is delayed until June 30, 2039.
December 2016, Boston purchased Sale from the Chicago White Sox. With the Red Sox, he has been placed on the disabled and injured lists nine times, primarily as a result of what should have been a typical summer. However, keep in mind that he just finished off 100 innings in the previous season and has elbow issues. On March 30, 2020, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and on August 14, 2021, he made his big league debut.
Last season, he pitched in 20 starts and 102 2/3 innings, going 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA.
“He’s clearly spent some time in the IL over the past few years,” Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos remarked. “You are unable to escape that. You understand that. However, it appears that this is the first
Sale, who went 17β18 with a 4.86 ERA in just 56 starts during the previous four years, was a key player in the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series victory. In 298 1/3 innings, he had 400 strikeouts and 79 walks.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow stated, “Anytime you trade someone like Sale, who has made such a meaningful contribution to this organization and was obviously an incredibly important part of a World Series-winning team, is a really, really tough, tough decision.”
Aside from arm pain, Sale had a rib injury in February 2022 during the management lockout while pitching during batting practice. On July 17, during his second startback, Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees struck him with a line drive that broke his left pinkie finger. On August 6, while riding a bicycle to lunch, Sale shattered his right wrist, which put an end to his season.
With the Red Sox, he made the All-Star team in both of his first two seasons, going 46-30 with a 3.27 ERA in 115 starts. With a 3.10 ERA, 2,189 strikeouts, and 416 walks in 1,780 2/3 innings, Sale has a career record of 120-80.
“His ability truly appeals to us. We adore the man, the makeup, and all he adds to our clubhouse, said Anthopoulos. “We believe he’s a starter worthy of the playoffs when he takes the mound.”
Sale had the right to reject any deal as a ten-year veteran who had played for his side for the previous five seasons.
He joins a Braves rotation that is expected to consist of Charlie Morton, Max Fried, and Spencer Strider. Reynaldo Lopez and Bryce Elder are two of the contenders for the No. 5 position, according to Anthopoulos.
Tanner Houck, Bryan Bello, and Kutter Crawford are among the finest available right-handers, but Boston doesn’t seem to have many choices for starting pitchers. The right-hander Lucas Giolito and the Red Sox agreed to a $38.5 million, two-year contract the day before, contingent to a passing physical examination.
With Atlanta over the last two seasons, Grissom, 22, has a.287 average, five home runs, and 27 RBIs in 64 games. He is under club control for six seasons. He started 19 games at shortstop and 41 at second base.
Grissom is Boston’s regular second baseman, according to Breslow.
