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Chris Sale contract details: How much money seven-time All-Star will make with Braves

12-30-2023
4 min read
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An interesting offseason is in swing for Boston as the Red Sox traded seven-time All-star pitcher Chris Sale to the Braves in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom.

And things have certainly been rolling for the team where making moves is concerned as it hasn't even been a full day since the Sox reportedly signed right-hander Lucas Giolito on a two-year contract worth $38.5 million. 

The news on Sale was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan. Here's everything to know about Sale's contract details and the situation at hand.

Chris Sale contract details

According to Passan, Sale's no-trade clause was waived to approve the deal as he was entering the last year of his five-year contract worth $145 million with the Red Sox.

Boston will direct $17 million to Atlanta in order to offset Sale's $27.5 million salary for 2024, according to The Boston Globe's Alex Speier. His 2024 salary includes $10 million deferred until June 30, 2039.

Sale joins a rotation of pitchers that includes Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Charlie Morton.

MORE: Trade grades for Braves-Red Sox swap

Chris Sale stats

While staying healthy long-term has been a challenge the last four seasons, there's no denying all that he's achieved for Boston and the important role he played for the Red Sox in his time there.

He finished in the top 5 in Cy Young voting his first two seasons in Boston after doing it his last four seasons with the White Sox. He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018, striking out the Dodgers' Manny Machado for the final out.

Since then, the injury bug has affected him significantly, as he's only saw the field 11 times between 2020 and 2022, throwing for just 48 1/3 innings. He was limited by Tommy John surgery in 2020 and the majority of 2021, also affected by a rib injury in 2022, followed by a pinkie injury.

He went 6-5 in 20 starts with a 4.30 ERA in 2023.

Here's a look at how he's performed statistically in his career.

Year Team GP CG ER W L Sv WHIP ERA
2023 Red Sox 20 0 49 6 5 0 1.13 4.30
2022 Red Sox 2 0 2 0 1 0 1.06 3.18
2021 Red Sox 9 0 15 5 1 0 1.34 3.16
2019 Red Sox 25 1 72 6 11 0 1.09 4.40
2018 Red Sox 27 0 37 12 4 0 0.86 2.11
2017 Red Sox 32 1 69 17 8 0 0.97 2.90
2016 White Sox 32 6 84 17 10 0 1.04 3.34
2015 White Sox 31 1 79 13 11 0 1.09 3.41
2014 White Sox 26 2 42 12 4 0 0.97 2.17
2013 White Sox 30 4 73 11 14 0 1.07 3.07
2012 White Sox 30 1 65 17 8 0 1.14 3.05
2011 White Sox 58 0 22 2 2 8 1.11 2.79
2010 White Sox 21 0 5 2 1 4 1.07 1.93
Career total     16 614 120 80 12 1.05 3.10