Braves' Chris Sale not 'safe' as trade deadline inches closer

The Atlanta Braves' season has gone far from how the team and fans expected. As the trade deadline gets closer, the Braves could start moving some big names.

Marcell Ozuna seems like the likeliest Braves player to be traded. He is going to be a free agent after the season and has already had his playing time reduced. However, FanSided's Christopher Kline listed Chris Sale as another Braves player who is not safe at the trade deadline.

"All the reporting around Chris Sale suggests that Atlanta will pick up his $18 million club option for next season and run it back," wrote Kline. "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. 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 is currently on the 60-day injured list, but he would be a great addition to any contender whenever he is healthy. The Braves could be looking to load up on young talent in hopes of being better next year.

Sale has a 2.52 ERA this season through 15 starts. Trading him would leave a hole in the rotation for next season, but given his injury history, it's a move Alex Anthopoulos may consider.

Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp

"He should be back for the playoffs in October, so this injury (in theory) is only a temporary setback," wrote Kline. "The Braves' desire to run it back and hope for better injury luck next season is completely understandable. But that's exactly what Atlanta did last year, when the team was at least still contending for a spot in the playoffs, and it did not work out. Durability is not a strength of the Braves' roster, top to bottom. Sale is also getting older. It's hard to imagine his value peaking higher in 2026 when he's in a walk year."