The Atlanta Braves added a veteran arm with upside to their starting rotation Saturday, acquiring left-hander Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox get highly touted young infielder Vaughn Grissom in return.
Sale, 34, is a seven-time All-Star, but he’s coming off three injury-plagued seasons. He posted a 4.30 ERA (3.80 FIP) in 2023, although he spent a couple of months sidelined with a shoulder injury. However, the all-time MLB leader in strikeouts per nine innings (11.1) was still a K machine, averaging 11/9.
The Red Sox also reportedly sent $17 million to Atlanta to cover some of Sale’s $27.5 million salary in 2024.
Grissom, who turns 23 on Jan. 5, slashed .280/.313/.347 in 23 games for the Braves in 2023 after spending most of the season putting up solid numbers in Triple-A. He figures to see time at second base ini Boston.
Fans generally agreed it’s a great trade for Atlanta if Sale can stay healthy. and that Grissom is a good return.
mans gonna come back and go 21-5 with a 2.53 ERA and 262 Ks
— fedora the explorer (@carellijawn) December 30, 2023
When Healthy.
— TA (@ta19061906) December 30, 2023
Thanks for the memories, Chris Sale.
Shame that injuries ruined the extension years, but we’ll always have the final out of 2018.
His run in 2017 is still one of the most dominant stretches I’ve ever seen from a pitcher.
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) December 30, 2023
If I were the Sox or now the Braves, I’d use Sale in the Andrew Miller role lr as a closer. What a force he would be out of the pen. He’s a 4 inning max starter anyway.
— James Hilario 🇺🇸🇵🇹 (@Jameshilario7) December 30, 2023
Completely worth the money and trade. Boston legend.
— Nolan Giblin (@nolangiblin9) December 30, 2023
I’ll always love memories of Sale days. The most eventful Red Sox bump days since Pedro. And he closed out a World Series sending Manny Machado to his knees.
Say whatever you want, Chris Sale cemented himself in Red Sox history.
THANK YOU CHRIS SALE!!❤️
pic.twitter.com/wjRFc7c0CB— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) December 30, 2023
IF Chris Sale is healthy, this deal is significant for #Braves obviously.
It’s a great opportunity for Vaughn Grissom whose first mlb hit was a HR at Fenway Park.#redsoxpic.twitter.com/ZhxpZTmuN4— Robert Flores (@RoFlo) December 30, 2023
