BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 09: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox returns to the dugout after pitching during the second inning of the Red Sox home opening game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on April 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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The Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox are both preparing for postseason pushes, but their paths since one of the most consequential recent trades between the clubs could hardly look more different.
Boston traded likely Hall of Famer Chris Sale to Atlanta before the 2024 season, receiving Vaughn Grissom in return while also sending $17 million to the Braves. At the time, Sale was coming off several injury-plagued seasons, having made just 31 starts from 2020 through 2023. The Red Sox appeared to be moving on from an accomplished pitcher whose best days might have been behind him.
Instead, Sale has experienced a remarkable career revival in Atlanta, leaving many Red Sox fans embittered by the decision to part ways with him.
“Sale entered the 2024 season thinking it would be the last of his career, and he exited it with his first career Cy Young Award,” Mark Bowman wrote for MLB.com. “Injuries had limited him to 151 innings from 2021-23. But he has continued to get better through each of his first three seasons with Atlanta.”
Now, with both teams looking toward October, Sale has offered a revealing response about that fateful transaction.
Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale Offers 3-Word Response On Boston Red Sox Trade
During a recent interview with Baseball Is Dead, Sale was asked whether he believed he would have enjoyed the same career renaissance if he had remained with the Red Sox.
“I don’t know,” Sale responded several tines. “I get traded and I found a new trainer… And I really felt like that helped me a lot with my health.”
While Red Sox fans will never know if Sale would have been able to deliver a similar 2024 campaign in Boston, the Braves’ superstar did go on to suggest he was only able to maintain his health thanks to a new training program away from Red Sox facilities.
Atlanta Braves’ Star Chris Sale Sends Message On Health Issues With Boston Red Sox
The results since the trade have been striking. Sale posted an 18-3 record with a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 2024, winning his first Cy Young Award at age 35.
His comments also suggest that the move represented more than simply changing uniforms.
“If I had stayed in Boston, would it have been the same? I don’t know,” Sale added. “It’s hard to tell, but because of the trade, I’ve found someone and got into some places and did some things that really helped me be healthy again.”
That distinction matters when assessing the deal. Sale’s Boston tenure included a World Series championship and some dominance, but injuries dramatically limited his availability late in his Red Sox career. Boston traded him after he made only 20 starts in 2023.
Atlanta, meanwhile, has received the version of Sale that Boston hoped it could keep healthy. In 2026, he earned his 10th All-Star selection and continued adding to his impressive Braves resume.
The trade will inevitably remain a fascinating what-if for both fan bases, particularly as Sale and the Braves enter another postseason chase.
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