Braves sign LHP Chris Sale to two-year, $38M extension

The Atlanta Braves signed newly acquired left-hander Chris Sale to a two-year, $38 million contract extension on Thursday.

The deal restructures his previous contract with the Boston Red Sox that expired after the upcoming season.

Sale, 34, is now scheduled to make $16 million in 2024 and $22 million in 2025. Atlanta added a buyout-free club option for $18 million for the 2026 season.

The Braves acquired the seven-time All-Star from Boston on Saturday along with cash considerations in exchange for infield prospect Vaughn Grissom.

Sale waived his no-trade clause to make the move to the National League for the first time.

He has dealt with injury issues in recent seasons, making 20 starts last season and 31 combined starts over the past three seasons. Sale did not pitch in 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He had a stress fracture in his ribs in 2022 along with a finger fracture and a broken wrist.

In 2023, Sale dealt with a stress fracture in his scapula, going 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA in his 20 starts with 125 strikeouts and 29 walks.

In 13 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2010-16) and Red Sox, Sale is 120-80 with a 3.10 ERA, 2,189 strikeouts and 416 walks. He was an All-Star in seven consecutive seasons starting in 2012 and finished as high as second in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2017, and third in 2014.

—Field Level Media