Before the 2024 season started, the Boston Red Sox made a move for the future, sending starting pitcher Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Vaughn Grissom.
Sale made 115 starts for Boston in seven seasons with the team, posting a 3.27 ERA and a 1.1018 WHIP while striking out 12.7 batters per nine innings. However, he made just 31 starts over his final four seasons and posted a 4.30 ERA in 2023.
This year, he's been unbelievable in Atlanta, leading baseball in wins (18), ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225) while setting himself as a favorite for the National League Cy Young.
While Boston fans might not have the best feeling about Sale due to his injuries, Red Sox manager Alex Cora is pulling for Sale to win the award.
“I’m glad that it’s happening and hopefully, he gets it,” Cora said over the weekend (via. MassLive).“ It was a joy to manage him. I think it’s better to keep the friendship — stay in touch and all that. What he did last year, prepared him for this, right? The decisions that we made (in the offseason to trade him) were based on where we were as an organization and everybody knows it. But him posting last year (prepared him).”
Cora even shared that Sale made a change this offseason that stemmed from talking to Boston's pitching coach, Andrew Bailey.
“He made some adjustments as far as location,” Cora said. “He had a good conversation with Bails in Fort Myers and then I saw something on the (MLB) Network about his changeup. His changeup is playing a lot better now than in the past. Just a grip adjustment or release adjustment and he’s been great.”
A Cy Young win would be Sale's first in an incredible career despite all the injuries. He's made eight All-Stars, won a World Series and come back from multiple injuries stronger than ever.
Unfortunately, Sale was pushed back from his start on Monday due to back spasms, so hopefully, he's able to go in the postseason if the Braves advance.
MORE RED SOX NEWS
Kenley Jansen explains his early departure from the team
Red Sox pitcher’s future is up in the air
Red Sox teammates are upset with closer Kenley Jansen
Update on Red Sox owners’ quest to buy the Celtics
