Chris Sale: healthy for the first time 'since 2018'
The Atlanta Braves didn't really need help for the regular season.
A season after winning a MLB-leading 104 games and running away with the NL East, the Braves returned almost every single piece from a record-setting offense and all the primary members of a rotation that won a collective 58 games last season.
But October was on the mind of president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos when he acquired one of MLB's pre-eminent strikeout artists, Chris Sale, from the Boston Red Sox for blocked infielder Vaughn Grissom.
Sale, who holds MLB's highest career strikeouts per nine innings at 11.0638 (minimum 1000 career innings), has pitched only 151 innings over the last three seasons owing to a litany of injuries, from a UCL injury to a right rib stress fracture and various other broken bones that aren't really his fault (finger, on a comebacker; wrist, on a bicycle accident).
But Sale believes this season could be different, as he explained to the media at spring training today.
"This is the first time I've gone into an offseason without dealing with something since 2018, something like that. It's been a long time." Sale explained, adding that he's been throwing all offseason instead of rehabbing an injury.
And that ability to focus on improving himself over the layoff plays a giant role in his confidence, which is currently "the most I've had in six years."
"It's been a while since I've had the whole package of finishing healthy, having a normal offseason and coming into spring training being healthy. All those things and hopefully being a little bit older and slightly smarter," are expected to allow Sale the opportunity to compete this season.
And rest assured, Sale's planning on a long season. When asked about the conversation around the club this week re: 'World Series or bust', Sale confirmed that this team should be having that conversation.
"It's got all the pieces there. I've heard things. I know World Series is at the top of the list. That's what we're all here to do."
And if the Braves are going to make it back to the World Series, they'll lean on Sale's experience...but he might bring another aspect to the club, as well: His passion and 'edge'. Several Braves players have positively commented on the competitive nature of Sale, with the pitcher simultaneously downplaying and confirming the rumors.
"I do get intense, I like to compete and I hate to lose," explained Sale, with the explainer of "I’m, for the most part, pretty laid-back, except for when I’m on a baseball field. I just don’t think that that’s a good adjective to have on a baseball field. Being laid-back in competition is never gonna be good for you."
And for Atlanta, that laid-back personality outside of competition is a good fit for the Braves clubhouse, with Sale noting that Atlanta's “very laid-back, but driven at the same time. You can feel the sense of urgency, but there’s no rush to it.”
But come October - all bets are off.
Important Braves Today Offseason Stories
2023 MLB Free Agent Rankings
Current Atlanta Braves prospect rankings
Current Atlanta Braves 40-man roster
Everything You Need to Know About Atlanta Braves Spring Training
Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise