The MLB trade deadline rumor mill is heating up, and the New York Yankees are expected to be right in the middle of it. But this time, there’s a new angle: a potential blockbuster deal with the Atlanta Braves for none other than Chris Sale.
Yeah. That Chris Sale — the eight-time All-Star, reigning NL Cy Young winner, and a certified postseason monster with a World Series ring to prove it.
A Trade That Turns Heads
According to a proposal floated by Heavy.com’s Cole Shelton, the Yankees could go full steam ahead in acquiring Sale to bolster a battered rotation.
The suggested deal? A two-for-one swap that would send Yankees top prospects Spencer Jones (No. 2 in the system) and Brock Selvidge (also in the top 10) to Atlanta in exchange for Sale and his $22 million contract this season — plus a club option for $18 million in 2026.
Shelton doesn’t mince words: this would be a blockbuster. And for good reason. Sale is pitching like it’s 2017 all over again. He’s 4–4 with a 2.79 ERA over 14 starts, looking every bit like the ace he once was in Boston. Slide him behind Carlos Rodón and a returning Max Fried, and you’ve got a playoff rotation that feels like a title-winner.
Why It Makes Sense for the Yankees
Let’s be real: the Yankees are in a pitching bind. Gerrit Cole’s recovery timeline has been murky. Luis Gil has been inconsistent and injury-prone. Clarke Schmidt? Out. They’re still winning games, but they know better than anyone that come October, arms — not bats — win championships.
Sale gives them a proven veteran who’s been through the wars. He knows October. He’s thriving in 2025. And if you’re the Yankees, you don’t blink twice at an $18 million option if you’re hoisting a trophy at the end of it.
Would the Braves Really Do This?
This isn’t as wild as it might sound on the Atlanta side. Sale’s been brilliant — there’s no debate there — but the Braves are currently nine games under .500 and rapidly running out of time to salvage their season. If they fall any further in the next six weeks, they may have to make a call few imagined: start retooling for 2026.
This trade gives them exactly that chance. Spencer Jones is a potential power-hitting outfielder with 30/30 upside and a 6’6″ frame that scouts drool over. Brock Selvidge, meanwhile, has mid-rotation potential and is nearly MLB-ready. Both fit Atlanta’s long-term needs, especially if a reset is coming.
The Catch: Would Either Side Blink?
The only real risk for New York is giving up top-tier prospects. But when you’re the Yankees — with the payroll, the urgency, the fan pressure — it’s a risk you expect to take. And Sale isn’t a rental. If he keeps pitching at this level, that $18 million option will look like a discount next spring.
For the Braves, it would be a tough pill to swallow. Sale has been a rare bright spot in a bumpy season. But if the postseason door closes, holding onto a 36-year-old pitcher with maximum trade value and a looming option might not be the smart play.
A Blockbuster With Teeth
The bottom line is that this kind of move defines deadlines. Bold. Risky. Calculated. The Yankees need a hammer in their rotation. The Braves might need to cash in on an asset before the lights go out. And Chris Sale? He could go from playoff dreamer to playoff destroyer — all in pinstripes.
