In a transfer that ought to come as no shock, the Braves formally exercised left-hander Chris Sale’s $18 million membership possibility for 2026 earlier than Thursday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline. The membership additionally exercised second baseman Ozzie Albies’ $7 million 2026 possibility whereas declining the choices it held on right-hander Pierce Johnson ($7 million) and Tyler Kinley ($5.5 million). The Braves additionally declined infielder David Fletcher’s $8 million possibility for 2026, in accordance with a report by The Athletic. Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim has already declined his $16 million participant choice to change into a free agent.
A fractured left rib cage price Sale greater than two months in 2025, a making an attempt marketing campaign that noticed the Braves cope with a slew of accidents and miss the playoffs for the primary time since 2017. Sale, although, was fairly good round that IL stint, posting a 2.58 ERA with 165 K’s over 125 2/3 innings. Accidents have been a recurring theme for the 36-year-old, who hasn’t made greater than 29 begins in a season since 2017.
