“… Understand this: Sale was hyper competitive, always professional and the ultimate teammate. Those who played with him held him in the highest regard, and so, too, did his managers and coaches. The notion that Sale didn’t care whether he contributed or not, and was only motivated by his paycheck, couldn’t be more off the mark.”
“Sale’s stuff, although not as dynamic as his exceptional peak, remains well above average, and Atlanta will insert him into a rotation that’s among the best in baseball.”
“But the warning signs were always there (that his contract extension was going to end badly), and those warning signs soon turned into a litany of natural disasters. Sale has made just 56 starts since signing the new deal. During spring training in 2020, it was announced that Sale would undergo Tommy John surgery; he thus sat out what turned out to be a pandemic-shortened season. He didn’t make another start until August 14, 2021, allowing two earned runs in five innings against the Baltimore Orioles. In his next start he worked five shutout innings against the Texas Rangers.”
“Though Sale’s workload will be closely monitored, the Braves plan on having Sale in their rotation at the start of the season. In other words, they don’t believe they need to delay his debut a month or two in attempt to maximize what he might be able to provide during the playoffs.”
“On Saturday, Sale left as an albatross. Traded in the final year of a five-year, $145 million extension that hamstrung the organization throughout its fall to the bottom of the American League East, Sale had become many of the things he never wanted to be on a baseball field. Unavailable. Unreliable. Overpaid. He’d become a wild card on a team that desperately needed stability.”
“He was so good when he first came over. It was a show every night. Always accountable. The extension was an issue. His body just started breaking down. I hope, with a healthy off season, he’ll stay healthy and throw well.”
“Saving $10.5 million in payroll ($8.6 million for luxury tax purposes) and getting a legitimate infield prospect in Grissom was a smart deal for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. The alternative was riding out the final season of Sale’s contract and hoping he could stay healthy.”
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