Chris Sale sends stylish message to Red Sox fans before facing Boston

Red Sox Nation shared mixed emotions after Boston traded Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves in December.

Sale is a World Series champion and has played an important role for the Red Sox on several occasions, but his hefty contract and frequent injuries outweighed the benefits of having him on the roster in many fans’ eyes.

The lefty knows he is a polarizing figure within Red Sox Nation. So when NESN’s Jahmai Webster asked Sale if he had a message for Sox fans watching him, he responded, “Thank you and I’m sorry.”

The pitcher acknowledged the positive and negative opinions he’s heard from fans. He also apologized for not living up to Boston’s expectations at the time of the trade.

In an episode of the “Foul Territory” podcast, Sale said he didn’t consider his time with the Red Sox a success. He backed up his statement by saying he only pitched one full, healthy season for Boston and had no major triumphs after signing his contract extension in 2019.

Fans were shocked by Sale’s willingness to take responsibility for his missed time, probably because his history with clubhouse TVs doesn’t suggest he’s the nicest guy. But he called his frequent injuries after his extension “a punch in the gut” and he shared his apology for disappointing the city with honesty and class.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora rushed to Sale’s defense during a news conference ahead of Boston’s reunion with the pitcher. Cora vouched for the pitcher’s character and attested that Sale did everything he could to be on the field as much as possible.

Sale still communicates regularly with his former manager and some teammates. He doesn’t appear to have any ill will toward the Red Sox organization and fans should offer him the same sentiment.