Chris Sale arrived in North Port for spring training with a renewed focus, reflecting on his 2025 campaign and aiming for a stronger start this year.
"I really didn't like how my Spring Training went and I didn't like how I started the season," Sale said. "So I definitely put more emphasis on being more prepared day one here. That's why I basically went straight to live BPs. I hadn't thrown any bullpens here. But I did enough work in the offseason to be ready for that."
2026 promises to be different for the former Florida Gulf Coast University ace. The team promoted bench coach Walt Weiss to manager during the offseason, and Weiss had high praise for the nine-time All-Star.
"It's tough to think of a big leaguer that I've been around that's better than him," Weiss said. "You couldn't have a better example in a camp for young players than Chris Sale. I mean it's that simple. And I told the young guys, the young pitchers before they went out for their first day, you know watch how this guy operates. You have an example with you every day and you need to take advantage of that."
This season also introduces a new rule: the automated ball-strike challenge system, tested last season, will be used in regular games. However, the 2024 Cy Young Award winner is not convinced about the new system.
"I will never challenge a pitch. I will never do it. I won't do it," Sale said.
When asked why, Sale responded, "because I'm not an umpire. That's their job. I'm a pitcher. I've never called balls and strikes. Plus, I'm greedy. I know that. I think they're all strikes. The catchers nowadays the way they receive it, they make them all look like strikes. And again, I'm a starting pitcher and I'm greedy. I like pitches that might be a little off. In the heat of moment, especially you throw a good pitch you know you got Murph or Baldy if they catch it the right way, they make a lot of balls look like strikes. And I don't want to take away one of those challenges that might be needed later on in the game. And I've dealt with it before."
At 36, Sale is in the final year of his contract with the Atlanta Braves. He expressed his desire not only to stay but also to retire with the team.
"I like being here you know these guys obviously gave me a shot," Sale said. "And kind of picked me up off the ground. I ended '23 kind of limping into the offseason and everyone has been great to me here and I really enjoy being here."
