Braves sign $38 million deal

On Thursday, the Atlanta Braves revealed that they have reached a two-year agreement with Chris Sale valued at $38 million, featuring an additional $18 million club option for the year 2026.

Acquired from the Red Sox in a trade on December 30, where infielder Vaughn Grissom was sent to Boston, Sale’s new contract modifies his 2024 salary to $16 million, while he is set to earn $22 million in 2025.

According to information from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Sale effectively secures nearly $18 million in guaranteed compensation through this revised deal. His 2025 salary is guaranteed, and a fresh club option for 2026 has been introduced. The Braves obtained $17 million in the exchange with the Red Sox, an amount more than sufficient to cover Sale’s salary for the upcoming 2024 season.

This move signifies the Braves’ confidence in Sale as more than just a short-term solution for their pitching rotation, a notable consideration given his history of injuries. Sale, who made 20 starts for the Red Sox in 2023, registered a 4.30 ERA across 102 2⁄3 innings. However, his expected ERA stood at 3.71, and he maintained an impressive 29.4 percent strikeout rate. It’s noteworthy that these 102 innings surpassed Sale’s combined innings from the preceding two seasons.