Dodgers Urged to Trade for Braves’ Chris Sale originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rarely stand pat when the trade deadline approaches — especially when their rivals are making moves. This season, with injuries piling up to star arms like Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles has an obvious need to bolster its rotation.
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According to Yahoo Sports’ MLB insider Russell Dorsey, one intriguing trade target could be Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale.
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“Coming off his first season in Atlanta, which saw him win the 2024 NL Cy Young Award, Sale has followed up with another strong campaign,” Dorsey wrote.
“Now 36, Sale is 4-4 with a 2.79 ERA and tied for fifth in MLB in strikeouts. And while the eight-time All-Star is likely in the twilight of his career, he’s proving every fifth day that he’s still one of the best starters in baseball.”
That kind of pedigree would make Sale the top arm on the market — if the Braves ever make him available.
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Atlanta has struggled to keep up with the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, and the Braves could look to sell if they believe their playoff hopes have faded. On the other hand, Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos is not one to punt on a season.
“If the Braves were open to trading him, Sale would easily be the most coveted starter at the deadline,” Dorsey wrote. “But that’s a big if. Anthopoulos is known for being aggressive— selling isn’t something he’s known to do.”
Still, with the Dodgers’ rotation in need and their championship window open, expect them to monitor Sale closely as the deadline approaches.
Related: Dodgers Insider Provides Insight into Shohei Ohtani’s Accelerated Rehab Timeline
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.