Before the 2024 season began, Atlanta received Chris Sale in a trade from Boston. The Red Sox sent $17 million to the Braves and got Vaughn Grissom in return. At the time, Sale looked done. He had made only 31 starts from 2020 through 2023. The Red Sox thought his best days were behind him. They were wrong. Sale just won his first career Cy Young Award.
Now the Braves are pushing for the postseason with a healthy ace. Boston is left wondering what could have been. The contrast is stark. According to reports.com, Sale started the 2024 season believing it marked his career finale, yet he finished it having earned his first Cy Young Award. Injuries had limited him to 151 innings from 2021-23. Yet with Atlanta, he improved during each of his initial three seasons there.
The Red Sox front office made a bold move. They bet on youth and cash over a veteran pitcher. That bet looks bad now. His stats included 225 strikeouts, a 2.38 ERA, and an 18-3 record. He did all this at age 35. The numbers tell the story. The Red Sox gave up a Hall of Fame talent for a player who might not ever reach that level.
Why Sale Says It Worked in Atlanta
So why did Sale thrive in Atlanta while struggling in Boston? He blames the training, not the talent. During a recent interview, Sale said he found a new trainer who helped him get healthy. Had I remained in Boston, the outcome might not have been identical. I don’t know, Sale said. The trade enabled me to find people and access places that facilitated my return to health, making it difficult to say what would have happened otherwise.
This is the real sting for Red Sox fans. It wasn’t just a change of uniform. It was a change of health. Sale had only 20 starts in 2023 for Boston. Atlanta got the version of Sale that Boston hoped to keep. Now Sale is an All-Star again. He earned his 10th selection in 2026. The Braves got their money’s worth and then some.
The Red Sox fans will never know the answer. Maybe Sale would have been great in Boston. Maybe he would have broken down again. But the current reality is clear. Sale is healthy and winning. Boston is left with the uncertainty. The trade represents a massive missed opportunity for the Sox.
The Red Sox Must Fix Their Pitching Now
Looking ahead, the Red Sox have a huge problem. They face the Yankees in the Wild Card round. For the second consecutive year, they face each other in this round. The best of three series plays at Yankee Stadium. Last year, the Red Sox won the first game but lost the next two. Their season ended abruptly.
Now they face another injury scare. Willson Contreras is the team’s best power threat. He has 27 home runs this year. However, pain has prevented him from swinging the bat. He was hit in the right hand with a pitch. Red Sox issues were labeled a huge problem by MLB insider Chris Young regarding that situation. He is undoubtedly correct. Contreras is one of the team’s top leaders and their best hope for the long ball.
Even without Sale, the Red Sox have talent. Wilyer Abreu led the American League with 38 doubles. He hit a go-ahead two-run double against the Cubs recently. Veteran starter Sonny Gray gave Abreu good advice to stay with his plan. He told him to trust his body and his talent. That kind of leadership helps. But can they win without their best hitters?
The weather adds another layer of stress. A Nor’easter is forecast to strike on Saturday and Sunday. Major League Baseball moved the final game to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Both teams are flying there Friday night. The Red Sox need to stay focused. They have a chance to beat the Yankees. But they need their health back.
Sale’s success in Atlanta is a reminder of what the Red Sox lost. They gave up a proven winner. Now they have to find a new way to win. The trade message from Sale is simple. He found health in Atlanta. Boston needs to find it now. The playoff run starts soon. The clock is ticking.
