For infielder Vaughn Grissom, the Braves acquired Chris Sale, a frequently injured pitcher.
ATLANTA — The 34-year-old left-hander Chris Sale was traded to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom, ending his injury-plagued tenure with the Boston Red Sox.
A portion of the $27.5 million salary that the seven-time All-Star is due in 2024—the last guaranteed season of a $160 million, six-year contract—will also be covered by cash sent by Boston to the Braves. $10 million of that 2024 salary is deferred until June 30, 2039.
After being acquired by Boston from the Chicago White Sox in December 2016, Sale has nine trips to the Red Sox disabled and injured list, the most common being elbow and shoulder problems. On March 30, 2020, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and on August 14, 2021, he made his big league debut.
Sale, who went 17–18 with a 4.86 ERA in just 56 starts over the previous four years, was a key player in the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series victory. In 298 1/3 innings, he had 400 strikeouts and 79 walks. The previous season, he was 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA in 20 starts.
With the Red Sox, Sale made the All-Star team in both of his first two seasons, going 46-30 with a 3.27 ERA in 115 starts. With 2,189 strikeouts, 416 walks, and a 3.10 ERA in 1,780 2/3 innings, Sale has a 120-80 career record.
Sale had the right to reject any trade as a ten-year veteran who had played for his team for the previous five seasons.
He joins a Braves rotation that is expected to consist of Charlie Morton, Max Fried, and Spencer Strider.
The 22-year-old Grissom spent the previous two seasons playing 64 games with Atlanta, compiling a.287 average, five home runs, and 27 RBI. He started 19 games at shortstop and 41 at second base.
On August 10, 2022, Grissom made his major league debut at Fenway Park. In his third plate appearance, he hit a two-run home run over the Green Monster.
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