Chris Sale’s baseball journey has been a rollercoaster trip. Sale became a Boston Red Sox favorite after dominating on the mound and helping them secure a World Series championship. But then, a series of bizarre injuries plagued him and left people wondering if Sale could ever make a comeback. Subsequently, the Red Sox lost patience and traded Sale to the Atlanta Braves last off-season for infielder Vaughn Grissom. Well, in hindsight, that seems to be a blessing for Sale, and for the Red Sox, a missed opportunity.

Sale wanted a fresh start, and he did get one; in a remarkable comeback story for the ages, Chris Sale turned in a masterful season, this time with the Braves. He won his first-ever Cy Young award, as announced on Wednesday night. A change of scenery just reignited him, but ironically, his most notable season was going to be his last and ended in a ‘what ifs’ situation. Before the last off-season, the ace was, believe it or not, going to call it quits after 2024, the final year of his contract.

Chris Sale was ready to retire in 2025

In the recent episode of Foul Territory, Chris Sale noted he was ready with that retirement mindset. “Before I got traded last offseason, we were planning that this year was probably going to be my last year playing,” Sale explained. He even pulled out his kids from school to homeschool, planning one last year of adventure for the family. But fate had other plans.

Enduring a nightmare of injuries with the Boston Red Sox from a stress fracture, a broken pinky, a wrist injury, and Tommy John surgery, Chris Sale made his epic comeback to the games. In his first season with the Atlanta Braves, Sale turned back the clock and posted an 18-3 record with an awesome 2.3 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 29 starts. These numbers helped him get that coveted Cy Young Award with 26 of a possible 30 first-place votes. Moreover, Sale also won the NL Comeback Player of the Year honor, securing a 360-degree turn on his career, and for the better.

Sale on his Hall of Fame chances

Chris Sale’s career has had its fair share of highs and lows, but when it comes to the Hall of Fame, he is still grounded. Despite his impressive resume of being an eight-time All-Star, World Series winner, Cy Young winner, and also 2024 NL Triple Crown winner, Sale doesn’t think he is a Hall of Famer as of yet. When Chris was asked about it during his exchange on Foul Territory, he said, “No. Not as it sits right now,” highlighting just how difficult it is to make it to Cooperstown.

However, one cannot dismiss Sale’s colorful career, and he is far from finished. In 2024, at the age of 35, Chris Sale is proving that age and injury history have nothing to do with slowing one down. The Braves believed in him before, even during the trade, and now too, they gave Sale a two-year extension with a $18 million club option for 2025.

Chris Sale is rewriting the final chapters truly exceptionally. If he remains healthy and performs at this level, a Hall of Fame call might come sooner than later. Do you think he can make his way to Cooperstown? Let us know in the comments.