During the most recent offseason, the Atlanta Braves made a significant move by trading for pitcher Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox. In return, they sent infielder Vaughn Grissom to Boston. Additionally, the Red Sox contributed $17 million to help offset the financial burden of Sale’s contract.
Sale’s tenure with the Red Sox had been plagued by injuries, limiting his performance in recent years. In his final season with Boston in 2023, he managed a 6-5 record with a 4.30 ERA across 20 starts. However, the two seasons prior were even more challenging, as he made only 11 combined starts and missed the entire 2020 season due to injury. These persistent health issues marked the latter part of his Red Sox career.
After joining the Braves, Sale managed to stay healthy throughout the season and delivered an incredible performance. Appearing in 29 games, he compiled an 18-3 record and led Major League Baseball with a 2.38 ERA. He also topped the National League in strikeouts, recording an impressive total of 225. His dominance earned him the prestigious Pitching Triple Crown, as his win total was also the highest in the NL.
Sale’s remarkable season brought him numerous accolades. He was honored with the National League Cy Young Award, recognizing him as the best pitcher in the league. Additionally, he received a Gold Glove Award for his defensive excellence and was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year. His outstanding achievements also secured him a spot in his eighth career All-Star Game.
Despite this resurgence, Sale admitted during an appearance on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that he initially believed the 2024 season would be his last. “I thought that it was going to be my last year, so I went into that offseason on a mission like ‘one more year left,'” Sale explained. He clarified that his potential departure from baseball wasn’t due to a loss of passion but rather an effort to walk away from the risk of further injuries.
However, after his dominant performance in 2024, Sale decided to continue his career. Now 35 years old, he is set to return to the mound for Atlanta in 2025. Fans are eager to see how he builds on his incredible comeback season and whether he can sustain his impressive form moving forward.
Leave a Reply