The Atlanta Braves aren't letting Chris Sale walk away. Not after what he showed them last season.
The nine-time All-Star and the Braves agreed to a one-year, $27 million contract extension that includes a club option for $30 million in 2028, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The 36-year-old left-hander was set to hit free agency after this season, but Atlanta made sure that wouldn't happen.
And let me tell you, folks - this is exactly the kind of move championship teams make.
Sale reminded everyone last season why he's a future Hall of Famer. After years of injury struggles following his trade from the Boston Red Sox, the lanky lefty rediscovered his dominance on the mound. The stuff was electric. The command was back. And the Braves saw enough to bet big on him continuing to defy the calendar.
At 36 years old, most pitchers are thinking about retirement. Sale is thinking about another run at October glory. He's proven he can still miss bats and dominate lineups when healthy - the question has always been about staying on the field.
Atlanta is betting he can. The club option for 2028 gives them flexibility, but the $27 million commitment for 2027 shows they believe this is more than just a feel-good reunion. This is about winning now.
The Braves have built a powerhouse around young position players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson, but championship windows don't stay open forever. Adding a proven ace - even one with mileage on his arm - gives them another weapon for what they hope is a deep playoff run.
Sale's career has been one of peaks and valleys. Seven All-Star selections before 30. A Cy Young-caliber peak that few lefties have ever matched. Then the injuries, the doubts, the questions about whether he'd ever be the same pitcher again.
