The Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves have created a whirlwind in the baseball world, and the dust hasn’t settled yet. The Red Sox shipped off Chris Sale to the Braves, covering almost an entire year of his salary. Sale was a franchise icon and former Cy Young contender for Boston. It’s like a fire sale and the Sox fans? Well, they’re still fuming.
If you’re wondering why the Sox pulled the trigger on this, let’s get into it. Chris Sale was once the shining ace for Boston, a perennial contender for the Cy Young award, and a pitcher with a slider that looked like black magic. But the injury bug? It bit, and it bit hard. By 2019, things were already looking grim for Sale. Then, he missed all of 2020 with Tommy John surgery. Between 2020 and 2022, Sale barely touched the mound, logging just 48.1 innings. More injuries and more disappointment came in 2023 as well.
So, when the Sox traded him to Atlanta, it was seen as a business move—shed an expensive, injury-prone arm and get younger talent like Vaughn Grissom. Sale then goes on to have a career resurgence in Atlanta, earning himself a pitching triple crown (and maybe even a Gold Glove, just for the bragging rights). Meanwhile, the Red Sox missed the playoffs, and Grissom? Let’s just say he’s made some friends and enemies in Boston with his choice of words for fans.
Fast forward to October and the Braves get caught in the Wild Card race, staring down elimination. Despite all the accolades Sale earned during the regular season, he’s nowhere to be seen on the mound. Due to a last-minute injury, Sale didn’t show up when it mattered most for the Braves. With Max Fried and Charlie Morton potentially leaving, it’s a whole new ballgame for Atlanta’s front office.
Atlanta Braves Pitching Depth
With two of their best arms possibly walking away and a farm system running thin on depth, the Braves need reinforcements. Ian Anderson and Spencer Strider might be back, and they’ve got some young talent like AJ Smith-Shawver and Spencer Schwellenbach in the wings. But if they want to keep their rotation elite, they’ll need to get creative. Anthopoulos has already made it clear he’s not splurging to make sure the Braves stay under the luxury tax.
So, who’s on the Braves’ radar? Well, the market offers some under-the-radar arms. They might just have the right mix of risk and reward though. Here’s a look at three potential trade targets:
Jeffrey Springs – The Underdog Southpaw
Jeffrey Springs is an intriguing option. Surprisingly, he was once considered a failed bullpen guy. Then, Springs became a dynamite starter in 2022. He posting a 2.46 ERA over 135.1 innings for the Rays. But then, like many pitchers on this list, injuries sidelined him in 2023 and 2024, limiting him to just 49 innings. Springs’ durability is the big question mark, but the Rays are deep in a rebuild and might be willing to offload his $36 million contract through 2027. Springs could be a high-risk, high-reward acquisition—exactly the kind of gamble Anthopoulos might take, especially if the price is right.
Drew Rasmussen – The Affordable Option
Drew Rasmussen is another possibility for the Braves. He delivered a 2.84 ERA over 146 innings in the 2022 season. After that season, injuries again limited his playtime. In 2024, he showed flashes of brilliance as a reliever with a 2.83 ERA in limited action. His velocity and effectiveness are still there, but durability remains an issue like Springs. However, Rasmussen comes at a bargain price at an estimated $3.3 million salary next season. Rasmussen could be an ideal, low-risk option for a club that wants to stretch every dollar.
Alek Manoah – The Comeback Kid
Alek Manoah is perhaps the most exciting option for Braves fans. After a sensational 2022, where he finished third in the AL Cy Young race, Manoah’s career hit turbulence with a disastrous 2023 (5.87 ERA) and an injury-plagued 2024. Now recovering from Tommy John surgery, Manoah represents a classic bounce-back candidate. A deal could be mutually beneficial with the Blue Jays under pressure to compete and manage their payroll. Manoah is still affordable at $2.3 million, and if the Braves can get him healthy, he might just be the steal of the century.
The Braves have a history of finding diamonds in the rough and bringing out the best in pitchers. If Anthopoulos plays his cards right, he could land a pitcher with the same high upside they saw in Chris Sale. Whether it’s Springs, Rasmussen, or Manoah, the Braves have options. And as they say—fortune favors the bold.
