The Boston Red Sox traded infielder Vaughn Grissom to the Atlanta Braves for Chris Sale during the previous summer. In order for the Braves to accept Sale’s contract, the Red Sox also provided $17 million to them. Sale finished with a 6-5 record and a 4.30 ERA in 20 starts during his last season with the Red Sox in 2023. This came after he missed the whole 2020 season due to injury and had only made 11 starts in his two prior seasons.
He so suffered from severe injuries throughout his last years in Boston. But Sale dominated in his first season as a Brave and remained healthy. He recorded an MLB-best 2.38 ERA, a National League-best 225 strikeouts, and an 18-3 record in 29 games. Since his 18 victories were the most in the NL,
he was awarded the Pitching Triple Crown. He was also voted NL Comeback Player of the Year, earned the Gold Glove Award and the NL Cy Young Award, and was selected to his ninth career All-Star Game. Sale said on the Baseball Isn’t Boring Podcast that it was nearly his final season,
making it a historic one. Sale stated, “I went into that offseason with a mission like ‘one more year left,’ because I thought it was going to be my last year.” “Keep in mind that I wasn’t abandoning baseball. I was avoiding injury as I walked away.
After dominating the previous season, it’s amazing how fast things changed for Sale. The 35-year-old will throw for Atlanta once more in 2025 rather than hanging up his cleats. From here, it will be interesting to watch how he handles his stellar 2024 campaign.
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