Braves agree to extension with Chris Sale

I’ve been pounding the table for this to get done since the beginning of the offseason, so to see it happen after all of the bad news to start Spring Training is a pleasant surprise.

This is a very similar path the Braves took with Charlie Morton at the end of his career, handing him mini one-year extensions with club options until they finally felt he was out of gas. The only difference is Chris Sale is getting a slightly higher pay bump at $27 million for 2027, which is more than fair given his production in his two seasons with the Braves.

Of course, there is risk. Even though Sale has stayed mostly healthy in Atlanta, he’s still dealt with multiple issues and missed time. Sale hasn’t made 30+ starts since the 2017 season. Plus, he’s set to enter his age-37 season, so it’s not as if he’s getting any younger.

That said, the Braves really didn’t have a choice here. Their pitching depth, both now and in the future, is razor thin. To potentially get a top-five pitcher in baseball under contract on a one-year, $27 million deal with a team option for 2028 is a no-brainer. Had Sale hit free agency following another stellar campaign — even at 38 years old — he likely would have garnered multiple short-term offers in the $40–50 million AAV range.

This is a big win for the Braves. Now, it’s time to get that Ronald Acuña Jr. situation ironed out and make him a Brave for life.