Atlanta Braves acquire washed-up pitcher

The Atlanta Braves are acquiring oft-injured pitcher Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The 34-year-old lefty has looked cooked. He’s either hurt — he only made two starts last season, and just nine in 2021— or ineffective, pitching to a 4.30 ERA in 20 starts this year.

The Braves are hoping Sale — who went 12-3 with a 2.11 ERA and 237 strikeouts for the 2018 World Series champion Sox — has something left in the tank. The pitcher waived his no-trade clause to go to Atlanta, who is looking for rotation help behind Max Fried and Spencer Strider. Charlie Morton was injured in September, while other Braves arms — including Ian Anderson — are also in recovery.

Grissom appeared in 64 games over the past two seasons, spending time between the bigs and Triple-A. 

Sale likely became expendable after the Red Sox signed Lucas Giolito to a two-year deal.

Atlanta lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, while Boston missed the postseason.