After consecutive years of having a 100+ win team unceremoniously knocked out of the playoffs in the divisional round, it felt like the Braves needed…something. Something more, something different. They are undoubtedly one of, if not the most, talented team in baseball and have been fore a couple of years now. They have multiple MVP caliber position players, including the actual MVP, two Cy Young-level starters, depth in the rotation, and all complimented with a tremendous bullpen. Just by a head count, this team doesn’t really need anything.
But at the same time, it felt like they did and the front office agreed. This winter the Braves added Jarred Kelenic to the outfield mix, brought back fan and clubhouse favorite Adam Duvall, added a ton of depth and velocity to their bullpen, and brought in some new faces for the bench. Though it would’ve been easy to do so, the Braves didn’t just sit on their hands this winter, and “run it back” with the same group. They made moves.
But none of those moves were the move of the winter. That came on December 30th, with this bomb from ESPN’s Jeff Passan:
Now, is Chris Sale the same guy from 2017? No, it’s highly unlikely the Braves are getting the official Staff Ace version of Chris Sale. But make no mistake, this is a massive move. It’s also a fairly decent sized gamble, considering immediately after making the trade, the Braves locked him into an additional $22M in guaranteed money for the 2025 season, regardless of how 2024 goes.
On the one hand, it’s Chris Sale. Even last year coming back from injury, he was striking out almost 11 guys per nine inning while only walking two per nine. When he’s been healthy, and when he’s pitched, he’s basically always been excellent. He’s still only 34 years old, he still has his velocity and arm speed, clocking 96 and 97 mph fastballs all spring training, and still has that patented wipe-out slider that keeps right-handed and left-handed hitters honest.
Sale’s slider finished at 4.5 runs above average in pitch value last year, and that was only in 100 innings pitched, meaning over a full season, it would’ve been one of they very best pitches in baseball. He can dot it on the inside corner’s to right-handers and left-handers have no shot against it when it’s on.
Again, we’ve seen that velocity this spring with Atlanta. He won’t sit 97-98 any more, as his fastball has averaged right around 95 mph the last few years, but he always has some extra in the tank when he needs a big pitch. Like when he’s facing Juan Soto or Bryce Harper. And if Braves fans are honest, having a plan for Harper come postseason time is not an insignificant factor. It’s very likely Atlanta will be in the playoffs. It’s very likely Philadelphia will be in the playoffs. Atlanta will now have guys like Sale, and Reynaldo Lopez, and Aaron Bummer, and Tyler Matzek to use against guys like Harper and Kyle Schwarber, which were upgrades the Braves desperately needed. They can’t afford to throw away any more seasons by letting Harper face Bryce Elder in the biggest situations of the year.
The Boston Red Sox have parted ways with what until not long ago was considered the cornerstone of the team’s pitching staff, after the Fenway Park club sent 34-year-old left-hander Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves in an unexpected trade.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox will receive 22-year-old shortstop Vaughn Grissom and monetary considerations from the Braves as part of the trade. Passan himself reports that Sale did not exercise his ability to veto the trade.
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The Boston Red Sox have parted ways with what until not long ago was considered the cornerstone of the team’s pitching staff, after the Fenway Park club sent 34-year-old left-hander Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves in an unexpected trade.
Chris Sale came to the Boston Red Sox in the offseason heading into 2017 from the White Sox. He had a very good first few years in Boston, winning the 2018 World Series, earning him a contract extension in 2019 for 5 seasons and $145 million.
From 2017 to 2019, Sale had dominant numbers, being one of the best pitchers in the American League, placing 2nd in the Cy Young voting in his first season in Boston, in addition to two All-Star nominations.
He threw 519 innings in that span, with a 3.08 ERA, 763 strikeouts, 35-23 record and a 149 ERA+ in 89 starts.
However, since his extension he has suffered many injuries, even undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020. Since returning from surgery in 2021, he has only pitched 151 innings with a 3.93 ERA, 11-7 record, 182 strikeouts and a 117 ERA+, not bad, but not what you expect from a rotation ace.
Meanwhile, Vaughn Grissom was the Atlanta Braves’ gamble in the wake of Dansby Swanson’s departure from the team.
However, the top prospect had a rough 2023 season, losing his spot at SS in Atlanta to Orlando Arcia.
Grissom spent almost the entire 2023 campaign in Triple-A, with only 23 games in the Big League, in which he had a WAR of -0.7, having a rather poor offense and defense in his time in MLB. He hit .280/.313/.347 with no home runs and a -7 DRS.
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