The Atlanta Braves recently acquired Chris Sale in exchange for Vaughn Grissom and cash. They turned around and signed the seven-time All-Star two a two-year deal with a third-year club option.
According to Fantasy Pros, Chris Sale’s ADP is 154.6. He is going in the same range as guys like Zach Eflin, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Nick Lodolo.
Talkin' Chris Sale trade and extension! – Talkin Tomahawk – Atlanta Braves Baseball
The reason I like Chris Sale as a value pick this year is that he enters the season healthy. If you watch the breakdown of his injury history in the video below, you can see that after the Tommy John surgery in 2020, he’s dealt with freak accidents like a broken pinkie or wrist from a bike wreck.
Chris Sale still has elite strikeout numbers with good control. His career 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings is the highest in the history of Major League Baseball among qualified pitchers. Last year he was still right on that mark with 11.0 SO/9 over 102.2 innings pitched.
Chris Sale said that this is his “first regular offseason in a while.” The Braves medical staff and front office believed enough in his health – to not only trade for him – but to sign him to an extension.
To get a pitcher the quality of Chris Sale in the 150s gives you an elite strikeout pitcher and potentially a guy that can help lead your entire pitching staff.
As always, it depends on health. Sale is nearly four years removed from his Tommy John surgery. Despite entering his age-35 season, he probably has the most upside of any pitcher in the range of his current ADP.
There is always a risk with injury-prone pitchers, but getting Sale this far down the draft board mitigates all of that risk. Be like the Braves and go get Chris Sale in 2024!
Leave a Reply