atlanta braves Have exercised their club option on left-handed players chris saleWho will make $18 million in 2026, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner went 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 125⅔ innings for the Braves last season. The nine-time All-Star suffered a rib cage fracture in June when he jumped to field a grounder and missed 10 weeks after being placed on the 60-day injured list.
In six games following his return, Sale did not miss a single, recording a 2.72 ERA and striking out 52 batters in just 36⅓ innings.
His injury was one of a series of injuries to the Braves starters last season, as all of their Opening Day starts were on the IL as Atlanta missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Sale, 36, won the pitching Triple Crown in his first season in Atlanta in 2024, finishing with NL highs in wins (18) and strikeouts (225) and a league-low ERA of 2.38.
atlanta, With new manager Walt Weiss.Returns a strong core led by former MVP in 2026 Ronald Acuna Jr.first baseman matt olsonthird baseman Austin Rileyfuture star catcher drake baldwinand a rotation featuring sales, spencer stryder And Spencer Schwellenbach,
After finishing fourth, Atlanta could still be one of the favorites in the NL East
Although Atlanta is loaded with starting-pitching options – young right-handers Hurston Waldrep And AJ Smith-ShowerThe right-handed batsman is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Grant Homes And bryce elder and left handed Joey Wentz Candidates Are – Its Bullpen Is a Work in Progress, With Closer Raisel Iglesias Heading into free agency this winter.
The New York Post first reported the Braves picking up the sale option.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
