The Atlanta Braves have locked up their Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Chris Sale through the 2027 season, announcing Tuesday they’ve added $27 million to his existing contract.
Sale, who turns 36 next year, captured the 2024 National League Cy Young Award during his debut season in Atlanta. The new agreement also features a $30 million team option that could keep him with the Braves through 2028.
The Braves obtained Sale from the Boston Red Sox in a December 2023 trade, subsequently restructuring his deal into a $38 million contract spanning two years with an $18 million club option for 2026. Atlanta picked up that option last November.
Since joining the Braves, Sale has compiled a 25-8 record with a 2.46 earned run average across 49 starts and one relief outing. His performance earned him two All-Star selections, bringing his career total to nine.
Throughout his 15-year major league career with Chicago White Sox, Boston, and Atlanta, Sale has posted a 145-88 record with a 3.01 ERA, accumulating 2,579 strikeouts over 2,084 innings pitched. His rate of 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings leads all pitchers who have thrown at least 1,500 innings.
Sale’s success in Atlanta marks a remarkable turnaround after struggling with injuries during his time in Boston, where he landed on the disabled or injured list nine separate times due primarily to shoulder and elbow problems. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2020 and didn’t return to major league action until August 2021.
