Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker speaks during a baseball news conference Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in St. Louis. The St. Louis Cardinals and Braves are scheduled to play Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Sunday in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
After Frustrating Injuries, Chris Sale Shows Optimistic Signs For the Atlanta Braves
On the last weekend of 2023, Chris Sale’s tenure with the Boston Red Sox officially ended.
Not with a retirement but a somewhat surprising trade to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Vaughn Grissom, someone the Red Sox hope will become their long-term second baseman.
Over the weekend, both players trended for differing reasons. On Saturday, Grissom was shelved with a “slight” left groin strain and it is an injury not expected to be serious but serious enough to prompt manager Alex Cora to say he is doubtful to start the season on time.
A day later, Sale made a second encouraging start with his new employer, throwing 2 22/3 scoreless innings against the Phillies in a preseason matchup of the teams pegged to be the top two teams in the NL East.
“I want to be what I’m supposed to be for this team and to make all that work in the offseason worth it,” Sale told reporters in North Port, Fla. Sunday. “There’s still some work to do. There’s still some things to iron out. But I like where we’re at and the trajectory we’re on.
The trade represents differing mindsets for both teams.
Sale is one of the final members of the 2018 championship team to leave Boston with only Rafael Devers still around and entering the second season of his 10-year deal, the third baseman is hoping his front office does more to improve a team coming off consecutive 78-win seasons.
Grissom is viewed as a possible young piece to go along with the various prospects the red Sox are touting and the Braves had enough major league pieces to feel confident in trading him.
And in getting Sale, the Braves are hopeful he is the pitcher who can get them over the hump and through a Division Series.
In 2022, Atlanta was the defending World Series champion and pitched to a 5.82 ERA against the Phillies after beating the Mets out for the Division title on the final weekend. Last year it was 4.50 against the Phillies in the Division Series.
Sale in essence is a bargain for the Braves, who are hoping he has something left in the final year of a $160 million six-year deal he signed with the Red Sox in March 2019. When the trade was finalized, the AP revealed the cost for the Braves is about $500,000 and the Red Sox are paying the Braves two installments of $8.5 million on April 1 and July 1.
And shortly after getting the financial assistance from the Red Sox, the Braves reworked Sale’s contract for two years, $38 million, which includes a 2026 club option, especially since his 3.92 ERA in his final nine starts of last season were deemed encouraging.
Sale’s initial deal with the Red Sox was signed after he threw the final pitch of the 2018 World Series by striking out Manny Machado at Dodger Stadium and it was a deal agreed to by current Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski, who would be fired late at night in September 2019. Dombrowski gave up three prospects to get Sale following the 2016 season and then Sale made 56 starts under the new deal.
He missed all of the pandemic 2020 season and then did not return until Aug. 2021. In 2022 he made two starts because he did not make his season debut until July due to a fractured rib and then broke a finger on a line drive by Aaron Hicks on July 17 at Yankee Stadium.
Still the results over the final two months were encouraging enough for the Braves to acquire Sale to join forces with young stars Spencer Strider and Max Fried. And the early returns are positive just like they are with Luis Severino and the Mets.
“Just don’t (stink) and they’ll like it,” Sale joked to reporters. “I’ve seen it firsthand on the other side.”
And the other side is the frustration of not being able to be on the field due to the litany of injuries, just like Severino’s recent seasons with the Yankees.
