Braves Hand Out Team Record Extension (Plus Player Reaction)

The Atlanta Braves' pitching staff had plenty of troubles last season with injuries. And it's already started this season with Spencer Schwellenbach expected to miss about half the season—if everything goes well.

But they've acted now to extend one of their aces, signing Chris Sale to a club-record salary, with an extension that could take them through 2028.

Braves, LHP Chris Sale agree to extension through 2027 with a 2028 club option. pic.twitter.com/dnYBKI77hz
— MLB (@MLB) February 24, 2026

The nine-time All-Star was set to hit free agency after this season, but instead gets a one-year, $27 million contract extension for 2027, and the deal includes a club option for $30 million in 2028.

“If there's anyone who deserves it, it's him,” GM Alex Anthopoulos said. “I actually think it's important, you know, as odd as that might sound. There’s no better person to have that highest AAV [average annual value] in the history of the organization, just because of everything he's about, how he goes about it and so on. So, yeah, he earned it.”

Earlier in camp, Sale said he’d like to retire as an Atlanta Brave and Anthopoulos echoed that, by saying he’d love to see it happen.

'It was kind of weird' said Sale about how extension came about

Sale was floored when he heard his GM's response. “It was kind of weird,” Sale said. “He said what he said, I said what I said, and we just kind of looked at each other like, ‘Are we serious?’ Then I called [agent B.B. Abbott], and was like, ‘Hey, call Alex and figure something out.’ We made our pitch, they made their pitch, and then we kind of met in the middle.”

Sale had had more than his own share of injury troubles himself during his career. But his move to the Braves in 2024 resulted in his first fully healthy season in five years. And it also resulted in a Cy Young Award, as he posted an 18-3 mark with a 2.38 ERA. He followed that up in 2025 with a 2.58 ERA and 11.8 K/9, though he was only able to make 20 starts.

The 37-year-old (as of Opening Day) will try to stay healthy for the season, as the Braves will need him with the extended absence of Schwellenbach due to elbow inflammation.

Sale now joins Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider as the only three legit starters signed after the 2026 season (not a bad threesome to have, assuming good health).