Braves acquire Chris Sale in trade with Red Sox; Vaughn Grissom lands in Boston
Seven-time All-Star Chris Sale is headed to Atlanta.
The Braves are acquiring the pitcher and cash considerations in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, who will receive sought-after prospect Vaughn Grissom, the Braves announced Saturday.
The Atlanta #Braves today acquired LHP Chris Sale and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for INF Vaughn Grissom. pic.twitter.com/xRIqANT7wu
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 30, 2023
The Red Sox will reportedly give the Braves $17 million in addition to Sale, who waived his no-trade clause to go to Atlanta. The extra cash, reported by the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, will likely go toward paying the 34-year-old's $27.5 million salary for the 2024 season.
Grissom has been playing winter ball in Puerto Rico as he prepares for a position change from the middle infield to left field. Drafted by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2019 draft, his first hit in the majors was a massive homer out of Fenway. Now, the milestone location will be his home field.
.@GrissomVaughn clears the Monster for his first career hit and homer!
(MLB x @SportClips) pic.twitter.com/sfekbaav2l— MLB (@MLB) August 11, 2022
Boston's front office has been busy this week. The move to trade Sale away comes a day after the Red Sox signed top starting pitcher Lucas Giolito to a reported two-year, $38.5 million deal.
Sale is entering the last guaranteed season of his contract after spending the past seven years with the Red Sox. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with the 13th overall selection of the 2010 draft. The most recent campaign was his best season since 2019, with a 4.30 ERA in 102⅔ innings over 20 starts. Sale recorded 125 strikeouts and 29 walks and allowed 15 home runs.
Although injuries limited him to just 11 appearances from 2020 to '22, Sale is a decorated veteran. He earned Cy Young Award consideration in seven consecutive seasons from 2012 to '18, leading Boston to give him a five-year, $145 million contract extension before the 2019 season.
Aside from Tommy John surgery and a shoulder issue, some of Sale's injury layoffs seemed downright unlucky. During his second game back from a stress fracture in his right ribcage, he was hit by a line drive that fractured his pinky. A month later, he sustained a season-ending wrist fracture in a bike accident.
As long as he stays healthy, Sale is now set to be a significant addition for the Braves, who already boast Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Charlie Morton in their rotation.
