In a move out of left field, the Boston Red Sox have traded pitcher Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves for infield prospect Vaughan Grissom.
Sale, a first round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2010, was at one time one of the premier pitchers in the AL. After spending 2010 and 2011 as a reliever, the southpaw became a starter in 2012 and for the next 7 seasons was a perennial AL All-Star and Cy Young contender although he never won the award.
Between 2012 and 2018, Sale went 99-59 with a 2.91 ERA fanning 1678 batters with only 300 walks in 1388 innings pitched. Prior to the 2017 season, Sale changed Sox going from Chicago to Boston in a trade for four players including pitcher Michael Kopech and infielder Yoan Moncada. In 2017, Sale had his finest season on the mound going 17-8 with a 2.90 striking out a league leading 308 batters in 214.1 innings pitched and finishing runner up to Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians in AL Cy Young balloting. In 2018, Sale would earn a World Series with the Bosox.
However, Sale's fortunes have declined since 2019. Prior to that season, Sale signed a five-year, $145 million contract extension through the 2024 season with a vesting option for 2025. Between 2019 and 2023, Sale only made 56 starts going 17-18 with a 4.16 ERA although he did fan 400 batters while walking only 79 in 298.1 innings pitched. Sale would miss the entire COVID shortened 2020 season due to Tommy John surgery.
In the grand scheme of things, this is probably a beneficial trade for both ballclubs. Sale enters 2024 with a career record of 120-80 with a 3.10 ERA along with 2189 strikeouts and only 416 walks in 1780.2 innings pitched. Sale, who turns 35 in March, joins a Braves rotation which includes 20-game winner Spencer Strider, Bryce Elder, Max Fried and 40-year-old Charlie Morton. As such, Sale is not expected to be the ace of the staff. If Sale can pitch 150 innings and win 10 games, the Braves would be very happy with that indeed.
As for Vaughan Grissom, he is expected to become the Red Sox second baseman of the future. Ozzie Albies is ensconced at second base in Atlanta. Grissom, who turns 23 on January 5th, can also play shortstop but so can Orlando Arcia. He saw limited action with the Braves in 2022 and 2023 with 64 games played in which he collected 62 hits for .287 batting average with 5 HR and 27 RBI. In Boston, Grissom will get to play every day. But like any prospect, Grissom is yet to be tested so the Red Sox are assuming the greater risk.
The trade of Sale comes a day after the Red Sox signed veteran free agent pitcher Lucas Giolito. The Craig Breslow era is looking interesting.
Still, it is sad to see Sale sail away.
No comments:
Post a Comment