Atlanta Braves acquire pitcher Chris Sale, a 7 time All Star, from the Boston Red Sox

ATLANTA — Chris Sale’s injury filled career with the Boston Red Sox ended Saturday when the 34 year old left hander was traded to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Vaughn Grissom. The Red Sox also are sending cash to the Braves, covering a portion of the $27.5 million salary the seven time All Star is owed in 2024, the final guaranteed season of a six year, $160 million contract.

That 2024 salary includes $10 million deferred until June 30, 2039. Advertisement The Red Sox acquired Sale from the Chicago White Sox in December 2016, and he was on the injured list nine with the Red Sox, mostly with shoulder and elbow ailments. He had Tommy John surgery on March 30, 2020, and returned to a big league mound on Aug.

14, 2021. Sale helped the Red Sox win a World Series title in 2018 but has made just 56 starts in the last four years, going 17 18 with a 4.86 ERA. He had 400 strikeouts and 79 walks in 298 1/3 innings. He was 6 5 with a 4.30 ERA in 20 starts last season. Advertisement Sale went 46 30 with a 3.27 ERA in 115 starts with the Red Sox, making the All Star team in his first two seasons.

Sale has a 120 80 career record with a 3.10 ERA, 2,189 strikeouts and 416 walks in 1,780 2/3 innings. As a 10 year veteran who spent the last five seasons with his team, Sale had the right to refuse any trade. He joins a Braves rotation projected to include Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Charlie Morton.

Grissom, 22, had a .287 average with five homers and 27 RBIs over 64 games with the Braves during the last two seasons. He made 41 starts at second base and 19 at shortstop. Grissom made his big league debut on Aug. 10, 2022, at Fenway Park and hit a two run homer over the Green Monster in his third plate appearance..