The Atlanta Braves are just getting Spring Training underway, but there’s already plenty of buzz surrounding the club-and a lot of that has to do with Chris Sale. The veteran left-hander met with the media earlier today, and while he touched on several topics, two moments stood out as particularly revealing.
First, Sale weighed in on MLB’s automated ball-strike (ABS) system, and his stance was clear: he’s not planning to use his pitcher challenge. Not once.
Sale, now in his 15th big-league season, said he’s spent his entire career dealing with missed calls and doesn’t want to burn a challenge that could be better used elsewhere. Instead, he’s leaving that decision in the hands of his catcher.
In other words, if there’s a borderline pitch and the backstop thinks it’s worth a challenge, it’s their call-not his. That’s a nod to the trust Sale places in his battery mate and a reflection of his old-school mentality.
But it was his comments on his future that really caught attention. For the first time in his career, Sale is entering a season without knowing what comes next.
He’s set to hit free agency after the 2026 campaign, and that uncertainty is new territory for a guy who’s spent most of his career under long-term deals. When asked if he’d like to finish his career in Atlanta, Sale didn’t hesitate-he said yes.
He credited the Braves for giving him a shot when he needed it most and helping him rediscover his form after a stretch of injuries and inconsistency.
And rediscover it he has.
Since arriving in Atlanta, Sale has looked every bit the ace he once was in his prime. Over two seasons, he’s racked up more than 10 wins above replacement (fWAR), while striking out over 32% of the batters he’s faced.
That’s elite territory, especially for a pitcher who’s now entering his age-37 season. He took home the 2024 National League Cy Young Award and was on pace for another top-five finish in 2025 before a freak midseason injury-a broken rib suffered while diving for a ball-sidelined him.
Still, when he’s healthy and on the mound, there are few pitchers in the game more dominant. His fastball-slider combo continues to miss bats at an elite rate, and his command has been as sharp as ever. He’s not just surviving as an older pitcher-he’s thriving.
That’s why his contract situation will be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow as the season unfolds. The Braves know what they have in Sale: a veteran with Hall of Fame credentials who’s still pitching like an ace. Whether Atlanta looks to lock him up with an extension before he hits the open market remains to be seen, but one thing is clear-if Sale keeps dealing the way he has, he’ll be in high demand.
For now, though, both sides seem focused on the present. And if the Braves are going to make another deep postseason run, they’ll need Chris Sale to be front and center, doing what he does best: dominating hitters and setting the tone every fifth day.