Chris Sale's Red Sox Career Comes to an End With Trade To Atlanta

Less than 24 hours after acquiring a former Cy Young finalist, the Boston Red Sox are parting ways with one of their own former Cy Young finalists.

Southpaw Chris Sale's time with Boston has come to an end, as he was sent to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for infield prospect Vaughn Grissom on Saturday. One of Boston's imperative offseason needs was at the second base position, where Grissom has made 57 MLB starts.

At the end of the 2019 season, Sale seemed destined for a plaque in Cooperstown. Since then, Sale has only thrown 146 innings while struggling to stay on the mound with a litany of injuries, while earning $117.5 million during that span.

Grissom will turn 23 on Friday. The Florida native made his MLB debut in 2022 (ironically at Fenway Park) and enjoyed a 2-4 night with a two-run home run and stolen base. In 216 career at bats, he is batting .287 with five home runs and 27 RBI, while swiping five bases and posting a .339 OBP.

The acquisition of Grissom doesn't completely satisfy Boston's hole at second base, but the Red Sox now have two young prospects at the position between Grissom and Enmanuel Valdez.

Due to his full-trade clause, Sale's approval was required to execute the deal.

Sale's contract is hefty, as he is due $27.5 million this year, which explains the necessity for the Red Sox to send cash with him to offload that money. Per the Boston Globe, Sale will still be paid $17.5 million from Boston in 2024, but it was always a pipe dream that one team would pick up the entirety of his contract while sending any form of a valuable return.

Sale caps off his Red Sox career with a 46-30 record, a 3.27 ERA, and 945 strikeouts. He recorded the final out of Boston's 2018 World Series championship.

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