Chris Sale was pondering retirement before joining Braves

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Chris Sale’s re-emergence as one of the top pitchers in the game came out of nowhere. From 2012 to 2023, he made a grand total of 31 starts, dealing with a litany of injuries, including the dreaded Tommy John surgery. Most believed, and rightfully so, that the days of the man that made seven straight All-Star appearances from 2012 to 2018 were well in the rearview mirror.

But Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos was still a believer, taking a gamble on the 35-year old last offseason and acquiring him from the Boston Red Sox for Vaughn Grissom. The move was met with varying reviews, but the results couldn’t have turned out better for both Chris Sale and the Braves.

Sale went on to have the best season of his career, becoming the first National League pitcher to win the Triple Crown since Clayton Kershaw did back in 2011. It was one of the most remarkable seasons in MLB history, and even Chris Sale didn’t see it coming, who said recently on Foul Territory that he was pondering retirement before he was traded to the Braves.

From pondering retirement to the best pitcher in the National League, Chris Sale’s story is unlike any we’ve ever seen. He broke several records and accomplished many firsts, but more than anything, it feels as if he really started enjoying the game again with the Braves.

Health certainly has a lot to do with it, but everybody that walks into the Atlanta clubhouse cannot stop raving about how easy it is to get acclimated and perform at the highest level. Alex Anthopoulos has placed a priority on it throughout his tenure as general manager, and the benefits have been exponential. The list of players that have struggled elsewhere yet found success with the Braves is too long to count, and Chris Sale’s Cy Young campaign is just the latest example.

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Photographer: David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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