disclosed: “I still have it in me” to be competitive.
“I never feel like the person I used to be. Sale stated, “I’ve always been myself. “My standards remain unwavering. I anticipate competing to the best of my abilities, as I always have. Even though I’m getting older, I still have it in me.
When the Braves acquired Sale from the Red Sox on December 30, they had this precise thought process in mind. For seven consecutive seasons (2012–18), the left-hander placed among the top six vote-getters for the American League Cy Young Award, generating credentials worthy of a Hall of Fame career. However, in the first four seasons of this decade, he has amassed 151 innings.
Throughout 20 starts with the Red Sox in 2018, Sale recorded a 4.30 ERA. Teams weren’t chasing the 34-year-old lefty, whose contract at the time contained a $27 million salary for 2024 and a $20 million option for 2025, despite this encouraging run of good health.
Alex Anthopoulos, president of baseball operations for the Braves, persuaded the Red Sox to add $17 million to the agreement. Then he crafted a new contract that will pay Sale $22 million in 2025 in addition to $16 million this season.
Sale’s recent medical history suggests that there is undoubtedly some risk. However, another general manager bemoaned the enormous potential and informed Anthopoulos that he had not even considered Sale as a trade candidate.
Anthopoulos declared, “We think the ability is phenomenal.” “Every coach and teammate who has worked with him that we have spoken to has had nothing but amazing things to say. The more you learn about [him], the more eager you are to acquire him.
Although Sale is a fantastic teammate and leader, the Braves need him to get over his health issues from the previous four seasons. The seasoned pitcher’s elbow started to bother him late in the 2019 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery the next year, made a successful comeback in late 2021, and then had a very unfortunate year the following year.
While pitching during live batting practice at Florida Gulf Coast University, Sale sustained a stress fracture to his right ribcage. Later that year, he took a comebacker to the finger and broke it. He broke his wrist after falling off his bike while he was on the injured list.
Last year, Sale missed two months due to a shoulder injury just when it looked like things were turning around. However, after returning to Boston’s rotation in August, he had hope as he recorded a 3.92 ERA in nine starts.
As a result, Sale had no problems getting through this winter. This marked his first time doing so since the winter after his role in the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series victory. He has resumed his normal bullpen practices and found the same level of enjoyment that he had before to the injury bug.
Sale declared, “Baseball is fun again, and I love to compete.” “I’m quite thrilled about this chance. I haven’t experienced the complete package of ending strong, having a typical offseason, and being healthy going into spring training in a long time. With the staff and individuals I’m surrounded by, along with all those factors and my increased age and intelligence, this will be the best opportunity I’ve had in a long time.
Sale won’t have the workload required to contend for a Cy Young Award this year because he only pitched 102 2/3 innings the previous year. Rather, the emphasis will be on making sure he stays fit and healthy for the postseason, when his fierce competition may come in handy.
Max Fried remarked, “He has an edge to him and he means business.” His presence is enticing and makes you want to be around him more. It is a pleasure to have him on my team.
Fans have witnessed Sale’s ferocity on the pitch and have heard tales of him cutting a fresh set of jerseys with scissors during a season of turmoil in the White Sox clubhouse. However, he is generally a calm person whose adrenaline simply surges much faster during competition.
“Aside from when I’m on a baseball field, I’m pretty laid back,” Sale stated. In a competition, it will never be beneficial for you to be carefree. I do therefore get intense. I enjoy competition and detest defeat.
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