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The Boston Red Sox kicked off the trade season by sending Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a shocking move. Their trade opens the door for other teams like the Atlanta Braves to make blockbuster trades now.
A player of Devers' caliber being traded likely has teams wondering what they could get in return for their superstar players. The Red Sox made that trade while dumping Devers' expensive contract, while they are just half a game out of a postseason spot. A team like the Braves could have much less to play for by the deadline and may entertain the idea of trading some of their stars.
Even if the Braves were not considering getting rid of some big-name players, seeing Devers yield four players, including the San Francisco Giants' No. 4 prospect, has to have them wondering what they could catch for Chris Sale in a trade. FanSided's Christopher Kline called a trade of Sale "more plausible than ever" after the Red Sox may have opened the floodgates.
"Chris Sale has a club option for next season," wrote Kline. "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."
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Sale doesn't have a $300 million contract like Devers and comes with no drama. He has a club option for next season and could turn any team into a nightmare to face in October. If teams are willing to "fall over themselves" to get him, the Braves could get a haul that sets them up for years to come.
With another year of club control, the eight-time All-Star and reigning Cy Young Award winner would become the prize of the trade deadline. A few weeks ago, the Braves front office likely would not have even considered thinking about trading Sale. However, now seeing what the market looks like for contenders and their spot in the postseason race, they could change their minds.
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