Chris Sale has arguably been the most effective pitcher on the Atlanta Braves since he was acquired throughout the 2023-24 offseason. He can be staying in Atlanta for not less than another yr.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Wednesday that the Braves are exercising Sale’s 2026 crew possibility. He’ll make $18 million within the upcoming season.
Sale has been stellar throughout his two seasons in Atlanta. He has posted a 2.46 ERA and a 1.035 WHIP over 303.1 innings, placing out 390 batters with 71 walks. Sale was named to the All-Star Sport in each seasons with the Braves and received the 2024 NL Cy Younger award as he turned one in every of 22 pitchers to win the pitching Triple Crown.
Atlanta Braves purchase time to resolve their future with Chris Sale
By selecting up Sale’s possibility, they’ve their employees ace locked in for another yr. That provides the Braves time to judge Sale at the start of the 2026 season to find out whether or not or not they need to signal the long run Corridor of Famer to a different extension.
There could be a number of dangers concerned with a potential extension. Sale has battled injuries, together with Tommy John surgical procedure that price him the truncated 2020 season, and has not made 30 begins since 2017. He’ll flip 37 years previous simply after Opening Day, making an extension an much more troublesome proposition.
Sale, in the meantime, has not displayed any indicators of slowing down. He stays among the finest pitchers in baseball when wholesome, a top-of-the-rotation starter that any contending crew would covet. If Sale continues to carry off Father Time, he could also be staying in Atlanta past 2026.
