Chris Sale had a tricky career in the course of six seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
After beginning his tenure with 308 strikeouts in 2017 and a World Series title in 2018, Sale battled accidents and did no longer pitch in a full season after the championship campaign.
The rollercoaster finally led him to Atlanta when the Red Sox traded Sale to the Braves for Vaughn Grissom this offseason. With time to replicate on his Boston tenure, Sale has made peace with his past.
While appearing on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast, Sale opened up about his modern-day standpoint of his time with the Red Sox.
“Listen, I have stated this to every person and I will say it to the day I die: The exceptional days of my lifestyles had been wearing the Red Sox uniform,” Sale shared with WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “The worst days of my life were also in that uniform. But all of us in that organization, the front office, staff, players, coaches, all of us – they handled me the same when I was at the top and I was beneath the bottom. I will always appreciate that, continually have love for that and I will usually recognize that. So I have nothing to say horrific about all and sundry there.”
While excited for the new chance to be part of a loaded Braves roster that will definitely compete for a World Series championship, the prospect of his future does no longer making leaving his previous with the Red Sox behind any easier for Sale.
“It was tough, man. I had some very, very, very (expletive) tough conversations simply calling to say goodbye because they were there for me,” Sale explained. “You construct relationships. (Expletive) extra special people. That was once tough. But on the flip-side of that, you flip the coin and you appear at this opportunity, coming into a young team full of excitement and freakishly talented. Look around this place, it’s unbelievable. I have been traded twice and each instances I definitely preferred being traded in the offseason. That in reality makes a little bit less complicated transition. I was able to meet some of the guys. It used to be effortless as it maybe should be.”
Sale appears to earn a 2nd profession championship with Atlanta in 2024 while the Red Sox call upon various starters to step up in the absence of the former ace.
