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Chris Sale winds up for a pitch.

The Atlanta Braves looked to be one of the better teams in Major League Baseball just a few seasons ago. Fast forward to 2025, and the Braves have been terrible, arguably the most disappointing team in baseball. For a Braves organization that has plenty to figure out, it might require a massive change at the deadline.

A Coveted Ace With High Value

Among the potential decisions that the Atlanta Braves have to make, Chris Sale will be at the top of that list. Some have speculated whether Sale could be moved, and it makes sense from the Braves’ perspective. He’s set to hit the free agency market this winter and could get them a massive haul in return.

For any team looking for an ace-caliber arm at the deadline, he’d be the best player traded if it happened.

And some believe that after the Rafael Devers trade, moving Sale is even more plausible now, including Christopher Kline.

“Chris Sale has a club option for next season,” Kline wrote . “The Braves can easily justify sticking it out and running it back next season, perhaps with a few slight tweaks. The reigning Cy Young winner remains one of the most dominant arms in the National League. He has been on a roll of late, with one or fewer runs allowed in five straight games.

“That said, if the Braves smell the roses and decide the end is nigh, trading Sale while his value is at its peak — in his age-36 season, with a lengthy injury history on his ledger — isn’t the worst idea. Starting pitching is always at a premium. Plenty of teams would fall over themselves to get in line for Sale, who could mean the difference between a postseason berth and a World Series victory for the right team.”

What’s the Probability of a Sale Trade?

Kline isn’t the only one who has suggested that the Atlanta Braves could move on from the left-hander who won the National League Cy Young Award last season.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, it’s possible that Sale could be dealt.

“I wouldn’t say zero for Chris Sale,” Heyman said , “though they’re signaling they’re a buyer as of now. But they are seven or eight games under Atlanta… So there are some names out there potentially that could be aces for teams that could potentially get traded…

“We’re likely not going to see an ace traded, but it’s worth dreaming to think about potentially Chris Sale or Freddie Peralta being traded, although I don’t think Peralta will get traded to the Cubs.”

What Will the Braves Look to Do?

Ultimately, the Atlanta Braves have to decide on what they want to do with Sale. If they want to move on from him, doing so right before the deadline seems to be the best plan.

There will be many desperate teams looking to acquire an ace-caliber arm right around the deadline, perhaps allowing them to get a better package.

Trading Sale won’t be an easy decision, as he’s still one of the better arms in baseball, but the Braves have no chance of competing this season. There’s no reason to hold on with the way they’ve played.

Jon Conahan covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Since 2019, his sports coverage has appeared at Sports Illustrated, oddschecker, ClutchPoints and Sportskeeda. More about Jon Conahan

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