Atlanta exchanged a highly ranked prospect for a pitcher with a long history of injuries.
In exchange for promising infielder Vaughn Grissom, the Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
Sale waived his no-trade clause to make this transaction possible, but why would the Braves make the move for a pitcher who has been plagued by ailments in recent years? The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal explains:
“Morton, who has averaged 31 starts in three seasons with the Braves and produced an adjusted ERA better than league average, will be a high bar to clear. Anthopoulos, in discussing the acquisition of Sale from the Red Sox, acknowledged to reporters, “There’s health history, and I understand that’s going to be a topic.” So why part with Grissom, a promising hitter about to turn 23, for a pitcher who last cleared 160 innings in 2017? Why invite risk when safer options were available earlier this offseason, and remain available in trade and in free agency?
The answers, according to sources briefed on the Braves’ thinking, start with the high price for starting pitching – and not just Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who commanded a record $325 million deal for a pitcher before ever performing in the majors.
At 34, Sonny Gray went for three years, $75 million, plus a draft pick. Frankie Montas and Jack Flaherty, each coming off two straight uninspiring seasons, went for $16 million and $14 million, respectively. Heaven knows what Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Shota Imanaga will command as free agents, and what Dylan Cease and Corbin Burnes might bring back in trades.
