The Atlanta Braves plan to exercise left-hander Chris Sale's $18 million club option for 2026, according to a source. The team also hired Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach and Antoan Richardson as first-base coach under new manager Walt Weiss. These moves come amid several contract decisions and staff changes for the upcoming season.
The Atlanta Braves are securing key pieces for 2026 by planning to pick up Chris Sale's $18 million club option, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The team has not yet confirmed the decision, which must be official by Thursday at 5 p.m. ET. This option was part of the two-year, $38 million extension Sale signed after his trade from the Boston Red Sox in late December 2023. In 2024, Sale captured the National League Cy Young Award, leading the league with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA, and 225 strikeouts over 177 2/3 innings. Despite a fractured left rib cage sidelining him for over two months in 2025, Sale posted a 2.58 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings.
Atlanta also intends to exercise second baseman Ozzie Albies' $7 million club option, as confirmed by president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. Club options remain for relievers Tyler Kinley ($5.5 million) and Pierce Johnson ($7 million), as well as infielder David Fletcher ($8 million). Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim has declined his $16 million player option to enter free agency.
On the coaching front, new manager Walt Weiss, hired on Monday, is building his staff. The Braves announced the hiring of Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach, replacing Rick Kranitz after seven seasons, and Antoan Richardson as first-base coach, succeeding Tom Goodwin. Hefner, previously with the Mets, earned praise for developing pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, and for 2024 successes with Luis Severino and Sean Manaea. Richardson, who debuted with the Braves in 2011, left the Mets due to differing views on his value. "During the negotiation process, we weren’t fully aligned on how we viewed my value," Richardson said. Third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez will not return.
Weiss, a former Braves bench coach from 2018-2025, reflected on his journey, crediting football coaching experience and mentors like Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox. He will wear No. 22 again and emphasized the advantages of internal transitions, citing examples like Pat Murphy in Milwaukee.