BREAKING: Braves acquire pitcher Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox for Vaughn Grissom

Atlanta's added a frontline starter that, when healthy, is one of the best pitchers in baseball

The Atlanta Braves have finally added the starting pitcher that fans have been asking for since the offseason started. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Atlanta Braves have traded for Boston Red Sox starter Chris Sale. 

BREAKING: The Atlanta Braves are acquiring seven-time All-Star Chris Sale in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, sources tell ESPN. Well-regarded infield prospect Vaughn Grissom is the return to Boston, which will send money with Sale, who waived his no-trade clause to join Atlanta

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 30, 2023

The Braves have yet to confirm the deal, which is reported to be including some amount of cash to cover a portion of Sale's salary for the 2024 season.

UPDATE: The team has confirmed the trade, but not disclosed the salary amount coming back to Atlanta. 

The Atlanta #Braves today acquired LHP Chris Sale and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for INF Vaughn Grissom. pic.twitter.com/xRIqANT7wu

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 30, 2023

Returning to Boston is Vaughn Grissom, who has been playing winter ball in Puerto Rico in preparation for a position change from the middle infield to left field. 

Sale, 34, is a seven-time All Star with seven Cy Young top five finishes. Originally a 1st round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2010, Sale has a career 120-80 record and 3.10 ERA in his 13 season Major League career. He has waived his no-trade clause to join Atlanta. 

Sale's in the final year of a five year, $145M contract extension he signed with Boston after the 2019 season. He was originally acquired by the Red Sox in 2016 via trade from Chicago. 

Sale's making $27.5M in the final year of his contract, with a $20M option for 2025 that automatically vests with a top ten finish in the 2024 Cy Young voting and not being on the injured list at the end of the regular season. 

UPDATE: Per the Boston Globe's Alex Speier, Atlanta is receiving $17M back in the deal, making Atlanta's salary commitment for 2024 only $10.5M. 

The injury clause is relevant - Sale's threw only 48.1 innings from 2020 through 2022 as Tommy John surgery, a rib injury, and a broken finger conspired to take multiple seasons away from the lefty. 

But last season was Sale's best since 2019, with a 6-5 record and a 4.30 ERA in twenty starts. Pitching 102.2 innings, Sale struck out 125 and walked only 29. 

Grissom, who turns 23 next week, has gotten play in two major league seasons, first replacing an injured Ozzie Albies at second base in 2022 and then an injured Orlando Arcia at shortstop in 2023. 

Grissom fared well offensively, batting .287/.339/.407 across the two seasons, but his defense was lacking at both positions, especially shortstop. He was sent back to AAA Gwinnett as soon as Orlando Arcia was ready to return from his microfractured wrist, which Arcia did without a rehab stint. 

Grissom was subsequently working in the outfield this winter in Puerto Rico, splitting time between third base and left field, and was expected to be the short side of a platoon in left field with newly-acquired Jarred Kelenic. 

The Trade Value for Vaughn Grissom Might Never be Higher

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