Red Sox pay Braves $17 million for Chris Sale this year. He costs Atlanta $500,000

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Washington. Chris Sale's injury-filled career with the Boston Red Sox ended Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 when the 34-year-old left-hander was traded the Atlanta Braves for infielder Vaughn Grissom. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

The Boston Red Sox will pay the Braves $17 million in equal installments of $8.5 million on April 1 and July 1 as part of last weekend’s trade that sent left-hander Chris Sale to Atlanta.

Sale’s cost to Atlanta this year in effect will be $500,000. The 34-year-old has a $27.5 million salary, but that includes $10 million deferred until June 30, 2039.

Sale is entering the final guaranteed season of a $160 million, six-year contract he signed with the Red Sox.