Pitcher Chris Sale remains one of the leading trade candidates as the Atlanta Braves’ struggles continue.
No other third-place team trails its division leader by as much as 14 games. With a .441 winning percentage, Atlanta has won three of its last four games and is aiming to win back-to-back series for the first time since defeating the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox earlier in May.
Braves Front Office Weighs Options With Chris Sale Still on the Table
Sale is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season, something the Braves may not be in a position to navigate, according to Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors.
His 4-4 record might not seem ideal, but his 2.79 ERA leads the team’s current starting rotation. This isn’t a Braves team that can afford to lose a key starter, but they may have no choice but to go into full sell mode, as they already find themselves so far behind in the division.
“Atlanta’s front office isn’t going to sell six weeks in advance of the trade deadline,” Franco wrote. “They’ve invested a lot and this core’s prior successes have earned them as much runway as possible to get hot.”
At 36 years old, Sale is still one of the most dominant lefties in the league.
Chris Sale last 10 starts:
61.2 IP
1.61 ERA
83 KMonday marked his 4th double-digit strikeout game this season. pic.twitter.com/aYoWNn0koa
— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) June 10, 2025
He’s coming off a Cy Young-winning season, the first of his career at 35. He already has more losses than a season ago, but his ERA is only slightly higher, as it remains under 3.00. At this point, Sale is in contention for his first stretch of back-to-back sub-3.00 ERA seasons since 2017-18.
Age is just a number, and several contenders could use an extra starting pitcher. Meanwhile, the Braves must weigh what’s best for their long-term future, since trading Sale would likely signal they’re conceding the 2025 season.
Citing Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Franco reported that the Braves continue to see themselves as buyers, pointing to shortstop and the outfield as key areas of interest.
Marcell Ozuna remains another potential trade candidate, but the Braves losing their designated hitter doesn’t seem like the best idea. Ozuna has made himself at home in Atlanta, but he is 34 years old. Sale is proving that age doesn’t matter, but if they are going to sell, they might as well get younger.
At 25 years old, Spencer Schwellenbach has proved he can fill the role of the team’s ace. At 5-4 with a 3.11 ERA, the righty won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2028. Raisel Iglesias serves as Atlanta’s closer, carrying a 6.23 ERA while leading the team in saves despite a 3-5 record. At 35 years old, Iglesias is one of only three players on the team over 30 years old to record a save this season.
Relief pitchers come at a premium, with a trade for Sale likely involving some sort of prospects. Atlanta has quite the decision ahead of them, with Sale seeming more likely to be traded than Ozuna.