Chris Sale admitted he was ready to walk away from baseball entirely after the 2023 season. Speaking to Jared Carrabis on his podcast, Sale confessed he was tired of the injuries and ‘sucking’ for five straight years, figuring his contract had one year left and then it was over. Imagine baseball without this dude, especially after the season he’s having right now!
The Ultimate Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
Sale, who battled through five injury-pocked seasons, went into that 2023 offseason with a clear mindset. He said, “I have one year left on my contract and I have an option. There’s no way they are picking up the option, so basically I got one year left of baseball.” He wanted to end on a good note, totally fed up with being hurt and ‘sucking.’ He took the offseason to really get after it, to ride it off and finish on his own terms. Did he ever!
What happened next? Unbelievable. The Atlanta Braves, after a season of pure disappointment in 2025, are now heading back to the playoffs in 2026. A huge part of that is Sale. He didn’t simply end on a good note; he resurrected his career! He dominated in 2024, winning the National League Cy Young Award. That’s not a “good note,” that’s a whole new symphony! He followed that up with a strong 2025 season.
Atlanta’s Bet Pays Off Big Time
The Braves made smart moves this season, including extending Sale. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the agreement: a one-year, $27 million contract extension with a club option, keeping the future Hall of Fame pitcher from reaching free agency next winter. Sale, who turns 37 on March 30, has been an absolute steal for Atlanta. If they never traded for him, he might have never won that Cy Young, and he could be out of the league by now!
Instead, he’s continued to dominate since arriving in Atlanta. This Wednesday night, Sale hit 200 strikeouts on the year. That’s elite stuff from a guy contemplating retirement not long ago. He’s fired up, too! Sale said he’s “very excited” to pitch in Atlanta during the playoffs for the first time in his career. “We’ll be at home, which will be amazing. I love pitching here in Atlanta. I love pitching in front of these fans and being able to do it in the postseason makes it that much more special,” he said. You can feel that energy!
The Braves are still one of the best teams in MLB, and with Chris Sale on the mound, they’re looking to win another World Series. This guy, who once wanted to call it a career after a rough patch, is now a World Series champion aiming for another ring. What a story, what a player. All eyes will be on Atlanta and Sale as they chase that championship glory.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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