The Braves have continued to underperform as the season nears its three-month mark. They clawed back from their 0-7 start to get above .500 in mid-May -- right as they were about to activate Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider from the injured list. Optimism was high. Then came a stretch of 14 losses in 17 contests that dropped them to a season-high 10 games below .500 over the weekend. They're coming off a solid series win in Milwaukee, but they face long odds to climb back into a tough NL playoff race. The division is all but gone, and they're nine games back with six teams to jump in the Wild Card picture.
Atlanta's front office isn't going to sell six weeks in advance of the trade deadline. They've invested a lot and this core's prior successes have earned them as much runway as possible to get hot. Jon Heyman of The New York Post wrote last night that the Braves still view themselves as buyers, highlighting shortstop and the outfield as potential targets.
Still, they're running low on time and coming off their worst stretch of the season. The back half of the lineup, late-inning relief mix, and starting pitching depth are all issues. They'll need a significant turnaround in the next 4-6 weeks to avoid selling some short-term pieces. Marcell Ozuna would be an obvious candidate as a rental bat who is raking for a third consecutive season. They could try to offload impending free agent reliever Raisel Iglesias, who has put himself on shaky ground by struggling with the longball. The tougher question is whether the front office should move any key players who are controllable beyond this year -- with Chris Sale leading the way as the team's top option.
Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription
- Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
- Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.
- Remove ads and support our writers.
- Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker
Yes
👑
Is Chris Sale for sale? Would they sell Sale? Would it be called a Sale sale?
yeah sure
Chris Sale Fire Sale?
They’d be fools not to. They got lucky to get a Cy Young performance out of him last year, and so far this year he’s been pretty good. I’d trade him back to BOS just to see if he turns back into a pumpkin.
The only return they could get from Boston would be grissom. Anything more than that and there be a job in jeopardy, to trade a guy away, then, bring him back, and pay more than you got, except for less control even counting the option year and all the cash you added
That second sentence was a wild ride.
So you are saying..Braves should send Chris Sale +$17M to Red Sox for Vaughn Grissom?
I don’t think AA would do that deal.
He has already invested more money + added another year to Sale’s contract. Besides, Grissom has a No-Trade clause in his contract and would probably veto a trade to the Braves!
Listen to everything!
Come on Hoyer, at least kick the tires on Sale!
Dodgers might offer someone like Jackson Ferris in return or even rushing
They’re probably not going to trade Sale. But if they do, its gonna cost the Cubs their top 3 prospects. Still want Sale?
I don’t see him costing the Cubs or any other team more than one top 100 prospect and a couple of mid-level guys.
Sale is 36 years old and only signed through the end of the season. While the team does have an $18 million option, he is still 36 years old. Can you name the last pitcher 37 year old and not on steroids to pitch a qualifying number of innings with an ERA under 3.50? There have only been 6 during this century under a 4.00 ERA. Not great odds that he will be any good in 2026.
Didn’t Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer just do it like a couple years ago?
Verlander did at age 39. Not at 37 or 38. Scherzer didn’t have enough innings to qualify at age 37 in 2022 and in 2023, his age 38 seasons, he had a 3.77 ERA. Obviously his health and performance has fallen off a cliff since then.
Starting pitchers that are able to both stay healthy and effective past 36 are unicorns.
If you consider backend older pitchers are now making $12M+ on one-year contracts, the $18M for Sale’s ’26 option is an easy yes for his potential ceiling.
Probably cost Cubs one of Caissie/Alcantara and top P.
Def not top 3 Prospects
Bless your heart
Their 3 top prospects? Only cost Atlanta a very average 2b prospect they had zero use for!
Probably cost them a top 100 but not 3.
The corpse of Charlie Morton got like 15m so Sale is quite the bargain.
But they dobt have to move him. So they’re only going to do it if they’re blown away. Plus they know the Cubs have 6 guys in the top 100. This isn’t a pure rental – he has another year at a reasonable salary. Age doesn’t matter. He’s one of the two best pitchers in the game b right now.
Way over the top return man…
If the Braves don’t get multiple top 100 prospects then they should not trade Sale… Unless that top 100 prospect was a top 10 overall prospect. Then maybe, maybe they settle for 1 top 100 prospect.
The reigning CY Young pitcher, that is in the CY Young talk this year as well, and will be paid ONLY $18M in 2026 should bring a lot back
And there is zero chance Sale gets traded for 1 top 100 and 2 mids. That’s the point. They will not trade him unless they are blown away with an offer because if they do, they will have to replace him in the offseason. The Braves will not be rebuilding. With what starters are getting now Sale is an absolute bargain and after a rough 5-6 start stretch to start the season, he is back to being one of the best in the game. Would make absolutely no sense to trade him for anything less than a huge overpay.
Chris Sale is already a unicorn.
With his injury history, Sale’s 2026 option is not something a team can consider picking up until the end of 2025. The downside is him not pitching at all in 2026.
Age does matter. A humongous amount. With 2026 being his age 37 season, you have a 1 in 380 chance that he pitches 140+ innings at a 3.50 ERA or better. From age 36 to 37 the average drop off in performance is 30% for MLB starting pitchers. You do the math for Sale.
Then there is zero chance he gets traded. The risk level for a 36 year old starting pitcher is too high. The drop off from 36 to 37 averages 30% . Going from a 2.80 ERA to a 3.7o ERA is what is expected The Braves will not get more than 1 top 100 prospect for Sale.
Well there’s no chance at all they get a top 20 prospect for him so I guess in your view he’s staying pat. But in reality, given his age and the Braves current situation, he’s likely headed out the door to the highest bidder. Maybe a guy in the 40-60 range and a couple organizational top 20 guys. But certainly not a bounty of prospect capital for a 36 yo pitcher
outinleftfield
you have a 1 in 380 chance that he pitches 140+ innings at a 3.50 ERA or better.
======================
So, just for fun, we make a bet. I send $10 to your favorite charity if I lose, and you send $3,800 to my favorite charity if I win?
I’m not sure how you determined your population, but assuming that Sale finishes with 170 IPs and a 3.00 ERA.
Since 2000, there have been 6 pitchers that were 36 years old, and equaled those stats or better-Scherzer, Johnson, Maddux, Verlander, Lackey and Glavine. 3 of those 6 attained your 140+/3.50.
There is no chance that the odds are 380-1. If the odds against a CY were even 100-1, I’d make a substantial wager on that.
No, the risk level is not high at all. It’s a 1 year, $17M “risk”. What did Mortan just get at age 41 coming off two straight 4+ era seasons…$15? If Sale were on the open market following this season he would get 3-4 times the one year option he’s owed. And you can look at his injury history two ways. Sure it could scare you but I don’t care what pitcher you sign, you have the same fear. The other side to those injuries is he has less milage on his arm than most 36 year old pitchers of his caliber. But none of this really matters. I’m just saying the Braves will have to get an overpay to consider dealing him I don’t care what risk you or a GM might think he is.
Sale to the cubs is what I see they have the upper level prospects. Horton would be a must.
No chance Horton or anyone on the roster sans the 25/26th man is going back for Sale. Maybe Birdsell or one at AAA.
Yeah any top thirty Cuba prospect is a fire hof player and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
Butter Biscuits
Sale to the cubs is what I see they have the upper level prospects. Horton would be a must.
=========================
1-Why would the Cubs trade an SP for an SP?
2-Zero chance of 6.5 years of Horton for 1.5 years of Sale.
I can see the braves trading him to the cubs for Cassie and maybe one of birdsell, Ronny Cruz, or Neely.
MLBTR should get Sale on a podcast – “Sale on Sale on Sale”
I like this, but it might be a little more on point if it read “Sale on Sale for Sale.”
Back to Boston for Story and a young arm? Did I eat the whole gummy?
Ate the gummy, the brownie, tinctured your lemonade and ran the bong dry.
Filthy bongwater is a part of every healthy diet.
A well-known stinky secret(ion).
So you’re saying I have a chance?
I would. This upcoming class of free agent starters is pretty good so finding a replacement might not be too hard.
It will be hard to get one when the Braves don’t spend high on FAs.
JD – Sale has been the 2nd-best pitcher in MLB since the start of last season. And he’s making only $18M next year.
Zero chance he can be replaced with someone even close to that good.
breslow’s lack of experience was put on full display by AA last year. One of the dumber moves by a GM in recent history. Your team desperately needs starting pitching, your system has plenty of middle infielders AND you’re supposedly on a “budget”. SMH
Ghost – So true!To make matters worse, he’s ruining Grissom. Why didn’t he trade him last off-season? Between Hamilton, Rafaela, Story, Campbell and Mayer they already have plenty of 2B coverage. Burying Grissom is ridiculous.
Fpg don’t you think trading grissom last off-season would have been selling very low and extremely short-sighted? He was injured so much on 2024 that was hardly representative of his potential value..i think breslow took the wise approach to let him build back value then deal him since he still has a massive amount of team control
Lol yea like AA’S moves are looking so great the Braves are gonna be sellers
Sale had injury problems from 2018 to 2023. I was happy Breslow traded him. The big mistake was Dombrowski giving Sale the huge contract.
FPG: “he’s ruining Grissom”
==================
What? Grissom is in AAA and doing ok. He is just not that good…like your posts.
In 2023, Sale came back from injury and finished the season strong. He then had his first fully healthy offseason in years, able to focus solely on baseball activities and not rehab. The Sox lauded his readiness in the winter, there was nothing to suggest that he would be anything but vintage Sale and then he proceeded to exceed even that.
That trade was a business decision technically Boston could part ways after the season and nobody had any interest in extending him based on the roi of that current deal. So they obtained what they thought was a high level prospect with 6 years control for a high priced rental who had a recent history of not being able to play..so to your point the ONLY reason the Sox got anything close to what they did from Atl was that sale was healthy and did well in spring training plus AA was willing to gamble. Worked out for atl but you.know they didn’t win anything..so far not great for Boston..however Boston still has grissom for 4 more years so maybe salvage something
“In 2023, Sale came back from injury”
=======================
Of course, he was injured in 2023 like he was every year after 2017. He only managed to pitch 102.2 innings in 2023.
“there was nothing to suggest that he would be anything but vintage Sale”
========================
Wrong. Sale had an ERA of 4.30 in 2023. That is not vintage Sale. If the Red Sox really believed in Sale they would have kept him. They likely lauded his readiness as a sales pitch to trade him.
Ghost – Excellent post!! You are one of my favorite posters because you are well informed.
Those who defend the Sale trade are sad ageists or Sale haters.
He was on a HOF path before the injuries and it was common knowledge he would resume that path when healthy again.
I would push back against “common knowledge he would resume that path” FPG, but I would acquiesce to “common thought he…”
Some of us down here in sunny San Diego wanted Sale, and our majority/prevalent thought process was that a healthy Sale would be an effective (neé vintage) Sale. Sadly, we did not procure him before ATL got their hooks in.
Gwynn – We are on the same page my friend, to me common knowledge equals thought.
I get the Sox weren’t trying to contend last year and therefore didn’t need him, but the return was awful and had they held onto him until the trade deadline they would have gotten a major haul for him.
Fpg even you can’t predict the future and based on recent history there is zero reason to believe he would make it healthy to the deadline..the sox saw an off ramp to a brutal contract and took it
“Sale had an ERA of 4.30 in 2023.”
Actually I said he FINISHED the season strong, which is exactly what he did. His ERA from his return in August was 2.27 with 54K and 14BB in 43.2IN giving up 32H, which I believe is a 1.06WHIP over that time period, which is only .01 off from his career WHIP. I’d say that’s pretty much “vintage” Sale and the eye test certainly confirmed that.
Thanks, Fever, same goes for you! I’m certainly trying to to be informed but also can sometimes let my emotions get the best of me. lol
I think when people defend obviously bad trades like the Sale and Mookie ones or they bad mouth players for no good reasons after they leave the team, in my opinion they most likely are reacting that way as a result of never coming to terms with the trades of favored players of their youth or some other deep seeded loss. It’s a weird phenomenon.
Ghost..You and fpg are reading way too much into this trade and the emotions of others..first worry about yourself the rest of us are fine. Second see my post on this trade being a business decision breslow made what at the time was the smart play for the only deal on the table to our knowledge
Pool- I’m certainly not worried about ANYONE on an anonymous comment forum lol. No need to get defensive unless there’s something to get defensive about. Of course it was a business decision, just we think it was a poor one.
43.2 IP from a 34 year old pitcher who was hurt for 5 years doesn’t look like a big enough sample size to be confident he will be vintage Sale for an entire season when he is 35 and worth spending another $27M on. I was happy to unload his contract and get $10M in salary relief.
ghost – I can’t see who you are quoting there, but obviously anyone who is pointing to Sale’s 2023 full season ERA as some kind of indication of where Sale was at the end of the season obviously doesn’t follow the Red Sox and is clueless about offseason player evaluations.
As usual you are 100% correct with your response to them, great post!!!
ghost – Thank you! Yeah of course, we all have emotions …. well, most of here do ;O)
That is an interesting view you have on people defending trades, it makes a lot of sense. I agree it’s likely a factor.
Another factor is some people are delusional and actually think they are part of the team, and therefore think by always defending the ownership/management they are somehow earning brownie points ….. it’s so bizarre.
Yet another factor is the “rooting for laundry” that Seinfeld is famous for pointing out, where so-called fans will instantly switch from love to hate as soon as a player goes to another team.
I just can’t imagine how some people here always support the greedy dishonest billionaire owners like John Henry who care only about profits.
Bottom line, it’s not ownership or management that were responsible for the longest sellout streak in the history of MLB …. it’s the PLAYERS that were ultimately responsible. The way people immediately turn on hugely popular players like Mookie, Xander, Sale, Devers etc is absolutely mind-boggling. .
ghost – It’s times like this I’m glad I can’t see the other person’s posts. LOL!
Sorry, it’s just not believable that keeping Sale after his 2023 season was a slam dunk. 43.2 IP does not make it a slam dunk to keep a 35 year old pitcher for $27M.
When was the last time the Braves signed a big time free agent? Let alone one as risky as a starting pitcher.
I would say yes but only settle for a kings ransom which should be attainable.
Yes.
You always consider/listen to offers. Would be a smart move to trade him.
Trade – Braves will not be having a rebuild next year, they will be in GFIN mode yet again. Which means keep Sale.
Of course they should. One of the worst teams in baseball and going nowhere. They also have the worst farm system in the game so they definitely should trade Sale.
But a few years back, Alex Anthopaulos was hands down the best GM in baseball. I argued with Braves fans about that and they believed he magically changed for the better.
They should listen on every one.
Finish this sentence: Ozuna and Sale to the Padres for _________?
The friar himself
Padres are getting Heaney
The ghost of Tony Gwynn
DeVries, Pivetta
Free McDonald’s for life because the Padres don’t have prospects to get that deal done
Do you think the Padres would be willing to go over the 3rd tier of the CBT for those two players? A 34 year old DH and a 36 year old starting pitcher with an extreme injury history?
No, but I think a trade could be worked out where salaries make sense for both parties.
He wouldn’t bring back a king’s ransom at the TDL. He would only be a rental. He will get dealt.
Sale’s contract has a team option for 2026 so no, he wouldn’t be a pure rental for any acquiring team.
He is 36 years old. All 36 year old players are rentals because of the typical precipitous decline in performance for players that age.
Assuming he finishes 2025 not on the IL, definitely not a rental.
How many 35 y/o have won the pitching Triple Crown…or even the Cy Young? What else does Sale have to do to convince peeps he is that guy?
If you are trading for Sale you are doing so with the expectation of keeping him next season, so barring a collapse or a serious injury he’s not a rental
OF COURSE, they should.
If they trade Ozuna this year, Murphy in the off season and spend $15-20 on the bullpen they’d be a WS competitor next year.
They get better by losing 2 of their best players and wasting $ on relievers?
Ozuna is a FA and Baldwin is a C. They could keep Murphy and have them split c/DH but Profar will also be returning. Point being they have 2 good assets that can be moved to improve elsewhere like LF and the bullpen. With the investment in all the core players why not invest in one more year with Sale and Acuna.
@studwinfield — My prediction is that they go with Baldwin as C/DH to replace Ozuna, which is what they were doing with d’Arnaud while Ozuna was suspended. This would save them the dollars needed to fill in elsewhere. That could change if Baldwin’s bat cools considerably or Ozuna goes on a hot streak and is willing to sign a team-friendly deal heading into FA, but not likely. It should also be noted that their TV deal is up in ’27, so they should be up for a considerable financial uptick in the near future, provided they don’t have that maroon TV exec from Time Warner renegotiating their new TV deal.
Yeah sure and ifs buts we’re candy and nuts we’d all have a merry Christmas.
If Sale is a “true” Game 1 playoff starter…
What happened in 2024?
He was injured
Precisely my point. He’s NOT a true Game 1 starter. Availability is the best ability.
Then there is no such thing as a Game 1 starter, since so many pitchers are injured by October.
Bingo! ..
Cue the overhyped Yankees prospect packages
And Cubs
They can listen all they want but unless they get blown away by an offer it’s not gonna happen, he’s still signed for next year.
Gentle FYI: “optimism” is positivity above what is solidly justified. The way the Braves felt back when they were back to .500 with Acuna and Strider on the way back, by definition, wasn’t “optimism”, because positivity at that point was very much justified. In these kinds of situations, I like to say folks were feeling “bullish”!
Gotta be a pretty elite offer.
How’s vaughn grissom and cash sound for sale sale?
Rockies could offer a nice package.
They probably could but they won’t. It’s not their style.
WHAT? The whole team?
“Passengers Certain to Die!”
“Airline Negligent!”
“There’s a sale at Penney’s!”
Dollander and Tovar? To much?
Probably like Tovar, Condon and a lottery ticket. But o don’t think the Braves would send Sale there.
Well, it wouldn’t make any sense for the Rockies to do that though
Sale is signed through next year. He’s one of the best pitchers the Braves traded for. The extension is working. No Sale
Vaughn Grissom should be available.
The Braves shouldn’t sell at all. After they sweep the Rockies this weekend, they will only be 6 games under .500. And on top of that, they have Acuna back playing at an MVP level. Their team is still really good. Profar is coming back from suspension as well. Maybe just pick a couple of fresh arms for the pen or something.
Article just for fun. Very few difference making players will be traded in June. Even in July most will be late July. Atlanta has over a month to decide.
ATL is heating up!
I wouldn’t put too much faith in Profar.
the window for our run is on the backend… everyone should be on the trading block.. we got a WS out of it so that rebuild was successful.. now time to do it again… this team just doesnt have it… braves should be able to get a kings ransom for alot of our players especially with team friendly contracts
C’mon Ross….the Jays need another lefty…
I think there’s little doubt Detroit is looking for another SP after losing Jobe to TJ and knowing Cobb isn’t going to be reliable. I could see them deal for Sale. He makes a lot of sense on that team. What a rotation that would be: Skubal-Sale-Flaherty-Mize-Olsen.
Sure, but if the Marlins can get Connor Norby and Stowers for Trevor Rogers, the Braves shouldn’t get anything less than in big league player in return and a top prospect close to making his MLB debut. Sick of teams just GIVING MLB players away to clutter your farm system with AA relieving pitchers with an ERA of 4,50 and a hitter that won’t see the light of day when it comes to being an every day MLB player.. stop it with this minor league crap in return for bigger players
Certainly they should listen. Sale has been way better what most people expected when the trade happened, but it would be better to cash in that value unless:
1) the Braves make a furious run to get back into contention this year or 2) they plan to spend to bring in enough help for next year.
The injury concern can’t be ignored either.
Trade to Boston for Marquis Gridsom.
I remember when Chris Sale used to go over to Brad Penny’s house.
There’s a Sale at Penny’s!
A Fire Sale?
I’ll be here all week folks.
No, if 2025 ain’t it hold on to an Ace. Lost Max this past offseason and it stings. The price they have on that club option is a steal for what he gives you. On the open market he is 25M plus.
Two, three years ago, Braves fans raved how Alex Anthopaulos was the best executive in baseball.
Then they found out what blue Jay fans knew lol in the 5 seasons as GM of the blue Jay’s they had exactly one good season..his last one..AA being smart immediately traded up on that small victory and left town for greener pastures…genuis..lol sure
Sure, you win a WS and that happens. The only reason we have Sale is a ballsy move by AA that has paid off (I mean, he extended Sale before throwing a pitch for ATL…), mostly b/c they are a franchise they will not pay premium dollars for top-of-rotation SP.
Anyone thinking they will move on from Sale without a replacement (while Lopez/AJSS are out extended periods of time) and a king’s ransom that most teams will not pay b/c of Sale’s age and injury history, is sorely mistaken.
Send him anywhere but Boston. He’d get hurt stepping off the plane at Logan Airport.
Dont send him to Philly either. Dombrowski would give him a 6 year contract with opt outs every 20 mins.
Sale, Ozuna and Murphy are the guys they should definitely move. Murphy may not get a lot to return but to free the payroll would be good. Sale and Ozuna will both bring back quality assets. The later can free up DH to keep Acuna healthier.
Ozuna is 34 and will be a free agent this off season. Your definition of “quality assets” must be a lot different than mine.
“Ozuna is raking”
Is he really though? I mean he’s not hitting terribly, I just feel this is hyperbole.
1-Atlanta has 10 games coming up against the NYM and Philly. I’s see if they can take 6-10.
2-Strider is 0-5, but should be a lot better than that. If he can turn it around by the end of the month, then that should be a top-tier rotation.
3-Atlanta has gone 0-10 in their last 10 one-run games. Had they gone 5-5, the article would be about adding, not selling.
My answer would be to wait. And even then, I’d have to see a substantial package.
Maybe I’m just cheap, but the more I click on an article, and then find I can’t read all of it, the less likely I am to pony up that $3 a month or whatever it is.
@bigal – They became the go-to rumors site, and still provide the same rumors for free plus somewhat more analysis than they did ever before on this side of the paywall
They show a preview of the more detailed articles and other media that they now create behind the paywall. So if that turns you off, then you never intended to pay in the first place.
Carver not really a turn off, just a tease. I guess I should go ahead and pony up the small yearly cost.
It is worth the small cost to get rid of the ads.
No because we all need reminders about erictile dysfunction and the pill we can buy to cure it lol
Ad Block gets rid of the ads. You can even get it for your phone.
Wow. Never heard of it.
How bout Yoan Moncada/ and that young stud pitcher of ours??? ( no not Brasier) …. Wait …. None of those guys play for the Redsox anymore??? You mean I was dreaming all this time… since 2017??? Oh dear God!!! How. Many WS Championships do the Yankees have Now!!!!! ( and Scene)
I think you have to at least float him. Someone desperate for a top of the rotation guy, like the Yankees or Dodgers would be dealing from a position of stench in their system. A Yankees deal centered around Lombard would be something to consider. With his injury history I would be moving Sale earlier than later.
They need a SS of the future because every year they always load up on pitching early in the draft they should have been doing this since at least 2021 when they knew they weren’t going to keep Dansby but they need to use Sale to get a young prospect that is major league ready.
Nah
Chris Sale to Mets and Jared Kelenic (Back) to the Mets! Mets send Luisangel Acuna, Juan Soto and $765M to the Braves.
Who says no? (Scott Boras!)?
No. If do that need to go full sell mode. Albies. Ozuna. Murphy. Profar. Jiminez. They should subtract to add. No prospects. Major league talent for major league talent. No tear down.