The Atlanta Braves entered spring training in a risky situation with star pitcher Chris Sale, as he was on an expiring contract. However, they signed the 36-year-old to a one-year, $27 million extension on Tuesday with a $30 million club option for 2028, per MLB.com.

Sale spoke about the situation after the news came out, via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chad Bishop.

"It was kind of weird. He [general manager Alex Anthopolous] said what he said, I said what I said, and we kind of just looked at each other like 'are we serious?'" he said. "Then I called [my agent] and was like 'Call Alex, figure something out.' We made our pitch, they made their pitch, and we kind of met in the middle. I feel like this was a week, relatively easy. Just very thankful for it though. Appreciative of my agency taking care of it, and Alex and the Braves' willingness to get this done."

Sale has been in the big leagues since 2010, but he's still one of baseball's best pitchers. The southpaw went 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA over 21 outings (20 starts) last season and went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA over 29 starts in 2024.

Extending Sale gives Atlanta more time to eventually replace the aging star. Right-hander and No. 2 starter Spencer Strider is only 27, but he still has plenty to prove after going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts last year. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Reynaldo Lopez notched a 1.99 ERA in 2024 but made just one start last season, and 29-year-old Grant Holmes has a 3.83 ERA in 48 career appearances (28 starts).

Those are all capable pitchers, but none of them could clearly replace Sale as the ace when the time comes. Signing the nine-time All-Star for next year with a 2028 club option is money well spent, as the Braves know what they're getting in him.

Sale was the NL Comeback Player of the Year and Cy Young Award-winner in 2024 after winning the pitching Triple Crowns (wins, strikeouts, ERA). The 6-foot-6, 180-pounder made just 20 starts for the Boston Red Sox in an injury-shortened 2023 campaign before they traded him to Atlanta in December of that year.

Sale missed time in 2025 due to a fractured rib cage, but still made the All-Star team for the second straight year. The veteran will help lead a Braves team trying to return to the playoffs in 2026 after going 76-86 last year.

Up next for Atlanta is a spring training matchup with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday at 1:05 p.m. ET.