Boston Red Sox' Leader Comments After Shocking Trade of Ace Chris Sale

The Boston Red Sox made an offseason-shattering move on Saturday, sending ace Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves. After the move was made official, Sox' Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow discussed it.

The Boston Red Sox made an offseason-shattering move on Saturday, sending ace pitcher Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves for well-regarded infield prospect Vaughn Grissom.

The Red Sox are also sending $17 million to the Braves in the transaction. Sale is owed $27.5 million in 2024.

After the trade was finalized and announced, new Red Sox' Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow said the following, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe:

“Anytime you trade someone like Sale, who has made such a meaningful contribution to this organization and was obviously an incredibly important part of a World Series-winning team, it’s a really tough, tough decision,” said Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. “But in the end, I felt like this was a decision that was best for the Red Sox, both in the near term and the long term.”

Sale spent six years in Boston, helping the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018 and making the All-Star Game in both 2017 and 2018.

Unfortunately, he battled injuries regularly since 2020, missing all of that COVID-shortened season. He also made just 11 appearances between 2021-2022. Sale did rebound to deliver 20 starts this past season for the Sox, who finished last in the American League East.

Lifetime, Sale is 120-80 over 13 years with the White Sox and Red Sox. He owns a 3.10 ERA and is a seven-time All-Star.

As for Breslow saying that this move is better for the Red Sox in the short and long term? That's debatable.

1) In the long-term, absolutely. The team turned one year of team control for an oft-injured pitcher into six years of team control for an exciting prospect that is slated to become the team's regular second baseman. If Grissom hits, then the trade helps Boston for years. It also could help them make other moves if they deal from a now excess middle infield prospect core.

2) In the short-term, eh, not so much. The Red Sox say they are looking to compete in 2024. If that's true, the starting rotation just got worse. While Grissom is exciting, he's unproven, and the Red Sox are just acquiring more uncertainty heading into 2024. If they use the money savings from the Sale deal, or prospect capital, to acquire a pitcher than can help in 2024 - we'll re-evaluate.

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