With the MLB trade deadline approaching, the Atlanta Braves are going to have some uncomfortable conversations. One of those conversations involves Braves ace Chris Sale, who has been floated in trade rumors as the Braves spin their wheels with a 33-39 record entering Thursday’s action.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos slammed the door on any deal involving the 36-year-old when he said a deal “will not happen” and to print his comments in bold, italicized, all caps. While it may be refreshing to see Atlanta not punt on a disappointing season, those comments could also be seen as delusional considering the current state of the team.
Braves Are Ignoring the Ugly Truth About Their Trade Deadline Plans
On the surface, it makes sense to keep Sale around. While he’s 36 years old, he’s still pitching like an ace, winning the National League Cy Young Award last season and going 5-4 with a 2.52 ERA in 89.1 innings this season. He’s also under team control for next season as Atlanta will certainly exercise his $18 million option for 2026 over the winter.
Anthopoulos mentioned these things when making his defiant comments about Sale’s availability. But ignores the fact that the Braves aren’t good enough to be a contender in the National League.
The Braves entered Wednesday 11 games behind the New York Mets for first place in the National League East and 5.5 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final wild card spot in the National League. The Braves are also behind four teams in the NL playoff picture and could be stuck in an arms race just to get to the postseason and be eliminated by a big-market club like the Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers.
The fact that there are so many teams vying for a postseason spot should also create an intriguing market for Sale. While the Braves could forge ahead and keep Sale for next season, he’s also a bargain compared to other free agent deals. Blake Snell’s five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers and Max Fried’s eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees gave teams sticker shock last offseason, and they could be looking to get ahead by acquiring an affordable, dominant arm.
Although Sale will turn 37 next March, teams may still be willing to give up a haul for roughly a year and a half of service. This could help Atlanta fill some of their holes in the short term, including a shortstop and left field but also get some prospects for a farm system that ranked 26th entering the year, according to MLB.com.
This is not what Braves fans want to hear as core pieces such as Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies trend closer to their 30s. But it could be a way to extend their window to compete for a championship.
Of course, Anthopoulos has already put himself on the hot seat with some of his previous failures, which is why holding onto Sale may be the Braves’ ultimate decision.