There were doubters, to be sure, when the Atlanta Braves acquired Chris Sale and swiftly granted him an extension. Sale is a beast on the mound when healthy, there’s no doubt about it. But given his history of injuries, there were many doubts about Sale’s ability to benefit the Braves enough in 2024 and beyond to justify the team’s investment in him.
That doubt began to fade after Sale’s first spring training start, as he dominated the Pirates in his two innings of work. Are two innings in spring training really that important? Not at all, but it did offer a hint of what Sale is capable of when he’s doing well.
To make matters even more encouraging, Sale essentially stated that he doesn’t care how the Braves utilize him and to “hand him the ball” when questioned about his expectations for his role and use in 2024.
Chris Sale’s outlook for 2024 might be just what the Braves need.
Many have speculated about how much rest the Braves would give Sale, particularly in the early going, and how they will handle his workload. To his credit, Sale has handled all of the queries and worries calmly and is aware that he still has a lot of skeptics to disprove. This man used to be among baseball’s top pitchers, and it’s obvious that he wants to regain that status and assist the Braves in winning a World Series.
Saying something like “I want to be out there every fifth day, but that decision is out of my hands” or some other corny statement would have been so simple for him to say. Rather, he took the ball and declared he would take anything the team needed or wanted. Without hesitation or platitudes, this guy just wants to play and win.
The Braves are a fiercely competitive team that plays with a lot of fire, so it will undoubtedly affect their clubhouse a little bit when a veteran like Sale steps in and declares he will do whatever it takes. For this Braves team, as Spencer Strider stated, it’s a World Series or bust, and Chris Sale appears to be fully committed to that outcome. His time with the Braves is off to a terrific start, albeit it remains to be seen if his body will hold up to achieve that goal.
