Two of the biggest questions surrounding the Atlanta Braves this offseason were "Will the Braves be able to trade for an additional beginning pitcher?" together with "Will they have to trade Vaughn Grissom so as to get that beginning bottle?" Both of those questions were addressed in the affirmative, as the Braves just turned a handle the Red Sox where Grissom is going to Boston in exchange for 35-year-old lefty Chris Sale. I will state that it's a little bit of a shock that Chris Sale ended up being the one getting traded since it appeared like Atlanta would have their eyes on other alternatives and the Red Sox appeared readied to give Sale one more shot in their turning. Although that he's had to take care of a ton of injury issues over recent seasons, he had actually currently been booked as Boston's Opening Day starter for the upcoming period. You do not require me to inform you that there's a great deal of time in between September and April and this is proof of that. Rather of beginning on Opening Day in Seattle, Sale is going to get on the road with the Braves to begin the regular period. The Atlanta #Braves today obtained LHP Chris Sale and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox for INF Vaughn Grissom. Atlanta Braves December 30, 2023First, let's speak about Vaughn Grissom. Talk concerning the distinction a year makes last offseason, there was a lot of buzz regarding Grissom spending a great deal of time during the winter with Ron Washington and it looked like it was all-but-certain that Grissom would be the starting shortstop for the Braves moving forward. Rather, Grissom fell short to make the Opening Day lineup, spent the substantial majority of his period in Triple-A, earned a shock call-up for the Postseason and then got some associates in left area while playing winter months round in Puerto Rico. Grissom was blocked from getting major league playing time at both Shortstop and 2nd base and it was quite clear after the Braves obtained Jared Kelenic that left area most likely wouldn't be Grissom's path to consistent having fun time, either. Essentially, the writing was on the wall surface for Grissom as for his future in Atlanta was worried. Instead of being the presumptive heir noticeable at shortstop adhering to the separation of Dansby Swanson, it seemed inevitable that Grissom would certainly be leaving the club as well. Certain enough, that day has actually come and currently he'll be playing routinely at the ballpark where he made his magical specialist debut: Fenway Park. He'll obtain his chance at routine big organization playing time in Boston and honestly, I wouldn't wager versus him doing the job with the Red Sox. While there's still a lot of concerns concerning whether or not he has the defensive chops to truly be dependable in the infield, the Red Sox are mosting likely to provide him lots of chances to function out the kinks because he ought to be a strong hitter at the big league level moving forward. If I'm Boston, I'm feeling rather delighted regarding seeing what Vaughn Grissom can do. As for the Braves are worried, this is most definitely a little bit of a gamble for them. When healthy and balanced, Chris Sale is an excellent alternative and must be trusted whenever he's on the mound. 2023 was the first season where Sale pitched over 100 innings because 2019, which is when he finished the year with a 91 AGE- and a 75 FIP-. Somewhat, he finished 2023 with a 95 PERIOD- and an 88 FIP-, which implies that he pitched at a similar level to the last season where he can have been considered actually healthy and balanced. If you take a look at his Statcast and contrast his 2019 to 2023, it's quite comparable specifically when it involves Chase Percentage, Whiff Portion, Strikeout Percent and Walk Percentage. I understand I'm not damaging any kind of ground with this evaluation but as lengthy as those are in the red area, you can live with whatever he offers you moving forward. Chris Sale's 2019 contrasted to 2023baseballsavant. , there were two words in the paragraph over that were very, very crucial: "When healthy and balanced. " While he did handle to go across the 100-inning threshold and made 20 beginnings last season, he still missed two months last period because of a shoulder injury which was after a disastrous checklist of injuries in 2022 minimal him to just two beginnings and 5. 2 innings in that period, which was after he had actually missed out on every one of 2020 and the majority of 2021 recouping from Tommy John surgical treatment. It goes without saying, there's some major injury threat right here however at the same time, the Braves need to be really hoping and figuring that Sale's injury good luck is mosting likely to turn eventually. The injuries that he received in 2022 might've been chalked up to some ol' fashioned rotten good luck, as he fractured a rib while exercising throughout the lockout, after that he got hit by a comebacker and broke his left pinkie in only his 2nd begin back after returning to the mound and afterwards he broke his appropriate wrist in a bike crash. The evident hope is that the shoulder injury he sustained last period was the end of his bad injury luck as he finished the season on a healthy and balanced note once he returned and so much he's had a healthy offseason in prep work for the upcoming likewise won't be asked to bring such a large concern in Atlanta, either. As mentioned earlier, he would certainly've been the Opening Day starter at the top of Boston's rotation. Right here in Atlanta, you have to figure that he'll be the fourth starter behind some mix of Max Fried, Spencer Strider and Charlie Morton. Also in his present kind, if Chris Sale is your fourth starter after that you're in a fantastic placement as for starting pitching is worried. The days of Sale being a 5-7 fWAR pitcher have reoccured yet as long as he can stay healthy, he'll be an extremely trustworthy option for the Braves in this rotation. Thinking about how last period opted for this team when it came to their starting pitching, it'll be significant to be able to have that level of integrity that deep in the turning. While there's no assurance that Chris Sale will stay healthy, it's absolutely understandable that the Braves would agree to wager on it. Atlanta will certainly be covering "a good amount" of Sale's contract and releasing an extremely solid possibility in Vaughn Grissom in order to try to strengthen their rotation for 2024 and perhaps 2025 if they choose to choose up his option next offseason. If it functions and Sale is healthy and balanced and productive after that the Braves will have a really formidable turning going onward Triston Casas Jersey. Alex Anthopoulos had a clear listing of jobs that he had to achieve this offseason the limbo situation needed to be addressed, the bullpen required some even more aid and they likewise might've taken advantage of an additional starter. All three of those tasks have actually been met and the Braves need to be feeling rather excellent entering into the upcoming period. This isn't a best roster yet at the exact same time, there's a reason this is still forecasted as the most effective team in baseball. The addition of Chris Sale need to just fortify that projection as we head into the new year.