Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Braves acquire seven-time All-Star pitcher from Red Sox

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 12/30/23

Chris Sale is changing addresses.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Saturday afternoon that Sale, a seven-time All-Star from 2012-18, is waiving his no-trade clause to join the Braves, who are sending infield prospect Vaughn Grissom to the Red Sox.

BREAKING: The Atlanta Braves are acquiring seven-time All-Star Chris Sale in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, sources tell ESPN. Well-regarded infield prospect Vaughn Grissom is the return to Boston, which will send money with Sale, who waived his no-trade clause to join Atlanta
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 30, 2023

Atlanta finished an MLB-best 104-58 but lost to the Phillies in the NLDS. The Braves were outscored 20-8 in the four-game series.

During the regular season, the Braves scored 947 runs, the most in the league, but tied for 13th in runs allowed (716).

The addition of Sale shores up the starting rotation that includes Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Max Fried.

It also solidifies the Braves as the biggest challenger to the Dodgers for the NL pennant. Earlier this offseason, Los Angeles landed the two biggest fish in free agency, two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani and coveted Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Sale put his recent injury woes behind him in 2023, returning from 2022 rib, finger and wrist injuries that limited him to 5.2 innings pitched that season. He also missed the 2020 season and most of the 2021 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Sale started 20 games last season, his most since 2019, and went 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA.

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