Five days after switching teams for the first time in more than seven years, former Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale has signed a new contract with his new club.
The Braves announced Thursday that they have ripped up Sale’s existing contract and inked him to a two-year, $38 million extension that includes a club option for 2026 worth $18 million. The deal will pay $16 million in 2024 and $18 million in 2025. Sale was originally due to make $27.5 million for the 2024 season, split between $17.5 million this year and $10 million in deferred money, with a club option existing for 2025. Now, he’s under contract for two guaranteed seasons with Atlanta, who kicked in an additional guaranteed year.
Before the extension, Sale was set to enter the final season of the ill-fated five-year, $145 million extension he signed with the Red Sox before the 2019 season.
The Red Sox traded Sale and cash ($17 million) to Atlanta for infielder Vaughn Grissom in a surprising swap Saturday. Boston’s financial commitment to the lefty doesn’t change; they’ll now pick up his entire salary ($16 million) in 2024 with $1 million leftover. Sale had to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal between the teams; it’s fair to wonder if the extension was part of his decision to swap teams. For the first time since the trade, the lefty will address the media Thursday afternoon.
Sale, a seven-time All-Star and a 2018 World Series champion with Boston, was 46-30 with a 3.27 ERA in six seasons with the Red Sox. Last season, he made 20 starts and went 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA. He finished among the top six in American League Cy Young Award voting in each season from 2012-18.