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Opposing fans must accept the Braves aren’t trading Chris Sale

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Alex Lord | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 11:43 AM ET

It’s not even July, and it feels like the NL East is completely out of reach for the Braves.

They currently sit 7.0 games under .500, 6.5 games back of the final wild card spot, and 12.0 games behind the first-place Mets. While there’s a lot of season left, it’s impossible to look at what the Braves have been for the better part of a season and a half and be confident they’ll capture a postseason berth.

The natural segue to that line of thinking is to be sellers at the trade deadline, and when that happens, it’s like vultures circling roadkill. Competitive clubs are picking through our bones, and the Braves aren’t even dead yet, with most pundits concocting hypothetical trades surrounding Chris Sale.

It’s easy to see why on their end. Sale has been arguably the best pitcher in the National League since the end of April and would easily be the best pitcher available at the trade deadline if the Braves decided to move him. Except there’s only one problem with that: there’s no world in which Alex Anthopoulos trades Chris Sale.

Whether it’s Cole Shelton getting Yankees fans’ hopes up or Jon Heyman getting Cubs fans’ hopes up, everybody should get it through their heads that the Braves aren’t going to trade their ace.

Alex Anthopoulos said as much in an interview Wednesday morning on 680 The Fan.

Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos on speculation Atlanta could trade Chris Sale: "Will not happen"

— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) June 18, 2025

That’s the case for a couple of reasons. The future of the Braves’ rotation isn’t rock solid. Next year, A.J. Smith-Shawver will miss the entire season, and who knows what Reynaldo Lopez will provide? Even if the Braves fall out of the playoff race this year, the club will be competing for a title in 2026. Getting rid of the rotation’s best starter isn’t exactly conducive to competing for championships.

On the season and among National League starters, Chris Sale ranks tied for 5th in fWAR (2.2), 8th in ERA (2.79), and 5th in FIP (2.74). However, he’s arguably been the best starter since April 25th, ranking 2nd in fWAR (1.9) among NL starters, 2nd in ERA (1.41), and 2nd in FIP (2.29).

Additionally, Sale is under contract for the 2026 campaign at a very modest price of $18 million. For a Cy Young candidate, that’s pennies.

The Braves might not be aggressive buyers, but they aren’t going to be sellers. Even if they are, Chris Sale won’t be on the table. Anybody concocting hypothetical trades involving his name is just chasing clicks.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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