The Chris Sale-for-Vaughn Grissom trade between the Braves and Red Sox caught many in baseball by surprise, including Sale himself. The veteran southpaw related in a recent appearance on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast (hat tip to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford) that being dealt “wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities. That wasn’t even a thought that crossed my mind” heading into the offseason. As Sale plainly put it, “Why would anybody want me at this point?” in the wake of multiple injury-plagued seasons.
There was also the factor of Sale’s 10-and-5 no-trade rights, so he could’ve rejected the chance to join the Braves. However, after less than a day of discussing things with his family and inner circle, Sale okayed the deal, with some Grapefruit League geography playing a major role. The Braves’ spring facility in North Port, Florida adds only roughly an hour to Sale’s commute from his home, so “I can still live my life while being part of this team in spring training. That was probably the most important thing. One hundred percent. My kids play sports. They’ve got school stuff going on.” Sale also relayed the amusing item that the first proper conversation he had with Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow after weeks of texts and “phone tag” was when Breslow let Sale know the trade was in the works.
More from around the AL East…
- Top Blue Jays pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann is day-to-day with inflammation in his calf and hamstring area, manager John Schneider told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (X links) and other reporters. It doesn’t seem like Tiedemann will be sidelined for too long since an MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage, though any kind of injury setback is perhaps more concerning given how Tiedemann missed big chunks of the 2023 season due to shoulder and biceps injuries. After pitching just 44 minor league innings last year, Tiedemann is going to be built up slowly and steadily to the point where the Jays hope he can take on more of a regular starter’s workload, and perhaps make his MLB debut before 2024 is through.
- Despite multiple trade rumors over the last few months, Harold Ramirez is still with the Rays, and he tells John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times that he is just focused on baseball as Spring Training games get underway. Ramirez will earn $3.8MM this season and is arbitration-eligible next winter as well, leading to speculation that the Rays might be open to dealing an increasingly-expensive (by their payroll standards) player with limited defensive value as an outfielder. Romano also notes that the recent signing of Amed Rosario brought another right-handed outfield option into the mix, so it still wouldn’t be a surprise if Tampa swung a late deal to move Ramirez prior to Opening Day.
Sale is going to thrive in the Braves clubhouse.
“Sale is going to thrive”…I have a sneaking feeling that Chris Sale could surprise many too. Alex Anthopolis is no dummy and prior to his Tommy John surgery Chris Sale had been elite, dynamic and fairly durable. With the price of starting pitching skyrocketing Chris Sale is probably worth the risk.
…and he doesn’t have the weight of the team on his back.
I like the gamble too as Sale can still be a ratio monster when he’s on and very valuable for the Braves, but durable and Chris Sale should never be in the same sentence again- even if cautious optimism disguised as lamenting.
“I like the gamble too”….From 2012-2018 Chris Sale made 7 straight All Star teams and pitched over 1200 innings without issue, winning one World Series Championship. Chris Sale finished in the top 10 of CY Young voting every year during this period of time and Chris Sale also reached 2000 strike outs in fewer innings pitched than any pitcher in history. It may have been several years ago, but there was a roughly 7 year period where Chris Sale had a record of “durability”, elite performance and overall production that less than a handful of pitchers could ever hope to match. These are the years I was referring to and that’s why I said “prior to Tommy John surgery”.
Yea man, long winded lamenting. I mean, we all know the 2010’s were good to Chris. His questionable health is what makes him a gamble and available to the Braves.
You just added an irrelevant quip to the current reality of Sale within an otherwise true statement.
Sale might thrive in the Braves clubhouse. I do not believe Sale will thrive on the field. 56 starts in the last 5 years. The best predictor of future injures is past injures. The most important stat for Chris Sale is availability. Sale is not going to stay healthy. Good luck.
Would rather have prime Greg Maddux
and i’d rather have a billion dollars. My post is just as pointless as yours.
Pfft. A billion dollars isn’t what it used to be either with inflation.
and I’d rather have sold billions of hamburgers… then I’d be Ronald McDonald and I could throw on a yellow jumpsuit, a red wig and nose, and join Owensboro in being a clown.
I’d take the 1968 version of Bob Gibson. Screw it, gimme the Yankees 1927 lineup, too, while we’re at it.
The Braves 2023 lineup was better. Just saying statistically, it was the best ever! I am with you on the 1968 version of Bob Gibson though!
I didn’t wanna be greedy, lol. I figure the 2nd best would suffice. I also like the 95 Indians lineup with Lofton, Alomar, Vizquel, Belle, Ramirez, Alomar Jr, etc….
The 1927 Yankees had a combined team OPS+ of 127 which included pitchers hitting and OPS+ of 136 with just the hitters.
The 2023 Braves had a team OPS+ of 124
Just saying statistically, it was NOT the best ever.
Though obviously they were great.
“Just saying statically”
The 1894 Boston Beaneaters scored 1,220 Runs in only 133 games. That is the best offense of all times.
Phillies 947 runs arent even in the top 20.
I’d like to have Elliot Maddox.
I’ll settle for Garry Maddox… and Brasier of course…
Russ Ortiz all day or drunk Derek Lowe over Hampton
Not many of those floating around.
Amed Rosario is an OF option?
I can see Harold Ramirez being traded mid season.
“Amed Rosario is an OF option?”…Rosario played plenty of OF in Cleveland. When he and Gimenez were first traded to Cleveland Francona cycled both thru some OF and middle infield work with Gimenez mostly playing infield and Rosario seeing plenty of time in LF.
I thought the Amed Rosario CF experiment ended early in the season.
I’m going from memory, but I’m a Mets watcher and watched those 2 for quite a while after they were traded and noticed one day I’d see Rosario at SS and then another day in the OF. I think Francona wanted to find which was the better SS/2Bman.
Inflamed hamstring and calf.
Sounds like somebody tiedamann up.
Thanks for the chuckle lol
I would think the opportunity to pitch for a playoff contender with a realistic shot at a World Series would trump a geographically convenient spring training facility, but each their own.
Problem is Sale will be amped up and go max effort in spring training. On and off the IL all year.
baseballteam – That’s what made Sale great and Cora an idiot for throttling it down. It changed his persona. The guy with his hair on fire became the methodical drone who was supposed to throw at the top of the zone when he lived at the bottom successfully for years.
I think Sale needs to stay healthy and if he does he’ll open the World series against the Rangers.
Only the Rays could cry about a .300 hitter making $3.8M with another year of arbitration in ‘25.
Yeah because $3.8M puts him at the poverty level living on state aid like you.