Chris Sale Signs Extension with Braves

By Brooks Thomason

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

January 4, 2024

Chris Sale has inked a new contract extension with the Atlanta Braves. The 35 year-old left-hander is a seven-time All-Star. Previously playing with the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox, Sale notched impressive numbers throughout his career, and the Braves acquired him on Saturday.

Contract Details

Chris Sale and the Braves have agreed to a two-year, 38-million contract extension into 2026. The deal includes an $18 million club option. Sale’s previous deal was for 2024, including an option in 2025 with incentives. Essentially, Sale is owed $16 million this season and $22 million the following year. The Braves still received $17 million dollars from the Vaughn Grissom trade, so this year’s salary is covered. This new extension also takes away the $10 million in deferral money until 2039. The Braves believe in Sale’s ability to pitch and hopes his health stays in order.

Chris Sale

Chris Sale, a veteran left-handed pitcher His career started with the Chicago White Sox in 2010. In 2016, the Red Sox acquired the lefty in the offseason. Starting in 2012, Sale earned his first All-Star appearance. What followed next was seven straight All-Star appearances. In 2023, Sale went 6–5 in 20 starts, posting a 4.30 ERA, 1.130 WHIP and 3.80 FIP in 102 2/3 innings pitched. Unfortunately for Sale, injuries including elbow and ribs have ridiculed the back half of his career. Sale missed 2020 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Sale has only pitched in 31 games in the next three seasons, posting a 3.93 ERA and 1.185 WHIP.

For the Braves, Sale comes to a rotation that featured only one left-handed pitcher in Max Fried. The Braves’ rotation, when healthy, will include Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Sale, Charlie Morton, and a fifth spot to a young pitcher. The fifth slot can rotate between a couple of young pitchers. Names such as Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, Allan Winans, and recently recovered from Tommy John surgery Ian Anderson. Although Braves general manager Alex Anthopolous didn’t get a big-name free agent, Sale’s addition could help the Braves if he is healthy in October.

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Brooks Thomason

As a up and coming writer, Brooks has been born and raised as an Atlanta Braves fan. Going through the years of Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, and Brian McCann as a kid, to Freddie Freeman, and Acuña, Brooks has seen Braves stars come and go. However, his fandom always remains with Braves Country.