Braves Blockbuster? Atlanta Ace Could Be Valuable Trade Deadline Piece
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The Atlanta Braves should be very aggressive sellers at the trade deadline. With a few days to go, Atlanta could be looking to cut ties with more than a handful of its best players.
FanSided's Christopher Kline recently suggested the Braves could cut ties with ace Chris Sale despite a lack of hard evidence that Atlanta is looking to do so.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 15: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers and Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves talk before the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta,...
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 15: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers and Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves talk before the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. More
Matthew Grimes Jr./"All the reporting around Chris Sale suggests that Atlanta will pick up his $18 million club option for next season and run it back. That is reasonable. Sale won the NL Cy Young award in 2024 and he was a frontrunner yet again this season before an unfortunate rib injury," Kline wrote. "And yet, Sale is also 36 years old, with a long and troubling history of injuries far worse than a broken rib. It is more than fair to wonder if Atlanta is best served by selling high.
"Sale, even hurt and even at his advanced age, would return a huge haul for the Braves. Contenders would line up around the block to add arguably the best left-handed arm in the National League. Sale's résumé has few equals in MLB and he's still throwing absolute gas in his 'old' age. He should be back for the playoffs in October, so this injury (in theory) is only a temporary setback."
Let's be clear. The Braves haven't shown any indication that they're looking to trade Sale, but it's reasonable to speculate.
Atlanta has all the pieces to compete next year if the right moves are made, but it would be very easy for their front office to be blown away by an offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
These teams have solid farm systems and a huge need for an ace.
At the end of the day, it's unlikely, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.
More MLB: Mets Cut Ties With Mark Vientos To Land $13 Million Ace In Hypothetical Trade
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