The Atlanta Braves ended their postseason in two series, and yet Chris Sale appeared in three games, pointing to the burden on the shoulders of the aging lefty. There is no underrating how much of a gamer Sale has proven to be and why the Braves have so much respect for their ace. However, there is no underrating the fact that there must be a sense of urgency in the upcoming offseason to take pressure off Sale and bring in top options capable of eating innings at a high level and allowing Sale to benefit from extra rest.
Even in the 2026 season, manager Walt Weiss rarely put Sale on the mound without extra time to recover. The results spoke for themselves and suggest the franchise is going to continue to utilize this approach in the next year of the starter's deal. Atlanta simply cannot go into next season without meaningful additions to take pressure off the southpaw.
Martin Perez and Tyler Mahle are both slated to hit free agency, while the bulk of the rotation is dealing with injuries. Looking at top-of-the-rotation options, you have no reason to believe Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Strider, or Spencer Schwellenbach are going to be able to stay healthy and take the needed pressure off.
The Braves need to be aggressive in free agency and understand that if they are going to have a legitimate shot to take down the Los Angeles Dodgers, it will take a deep rotation. One capable of offering 1-2 top tier options beyond just an aging Sale.
Braves Owe it to Aging Chris Sale to Reinforce Atlanta Rotation in 2026-27 Offseason
Sale being the most durable option in Atlanta's rotation is a bit of a surprise when you look back at the veteran's career and see the long history of injuries. It seems that a change of scenery was what was needed to put his career back on track and offer Atlanta a level of elite production that has helped survive what has been seemingly endless injury frustrations.
For the Braves, the top target is obvious in current Dodger and upcoming free agent Tarik Skubal. It is the rare example of a player hitting free agency in the middle of their prime being worth an overspend with the Atlanta front office already showing interest during the 2026 trade deadline.
No matter the player, it is clear Sale cannot be asked to shoulder the same level of responsibility he did in recent seasons. As the aging pitcher continues to fill an important role, there needs to be a sense of urgency to extend an impressive career as long as possible.
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