The Atlanta Braves and starting pitcher Chris Sale have come to terms on a new 1 year, $27M extension which will keep him tied to the team through the 2027 MLB campaign.
The deal will also feature a $30M option with no buyout for the 2028 season, representing the largest single season salary the Braves have ever handed out to a player. Sale will once again be counted on to lead an Atlanta rotation that finds themselves behind the injury 8-ball before the season has even begun.
Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are both dealing with injuries this spring. That leaves Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder as the most likely rotation pieces to begin 2026.
The soon to be 37 year old is preparing for his 16th year in the majors, and is only 2 years removed from a Cy Young Award winning campaign. Currently sitting at 145 wins, one figures that Sale will eclipse the 150 win plateau this season with Atlanta. However his extension, and option for 2028 also give him an opportunity to hit the 3,000 strikeout club in a Braves uniform as well.
Currently sitting at 2,579 Ks for his career, Sale would need to average 140 strikeouts over the next 3 seasons to pass the hallowed mark. However, if he’s able to stay healthy and turn in a performance similar to the past, there’s a good chance he could do it as early as next season.
Sale has gone over the 200K mark in a season in 8 of his years in the big leagues. Only in seasons marred by injury has he failed to go over that mark, with him having 200+ strikeouts in every MLB campaign in which he’s pitched at least 150 innings.
The 6’6″ lefty still sports a fastball that averages around 95mph and can reach as high as 99mph, onto of having one of the most effective sliders of his generation. The only thing that could prevent Sale from reaching some lofty milestones would be the impending work stoppage if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached between the league and its player’s association this offseason.
Up next for Atlanta is a 1:05pm ET spring training game against the Detroit Tigers.
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