While it is was a little weird for Chris Sale to get named to the 2025 All-Star roster when he definitely wouldn't pitch in the game, there is no denying that the Atlanta Braves starter wasn't worthy strictly by the numbers. Despite being on the IL with a broken rib since the middle of June, Sale still ranks in the top eight (as of July 8) pitchers in the National League by fWAR. The guy was absolutely shoving at 36 years old and that begs the question as to whether Sale has already punched his ticket to Cooperstown.
Figuring out if a player, especially modern pitchers, is worthy of the Hall of Fame is extremely tough. Each voter has their own criteria from the "Big Hall" guys who struggle to limit their ballots to 10 players each year to the voters that have to be convinced to vote for anyone at all. Sale certainly has a case for the Hall of Fame, but it does seem as though he still has a little more to do if he wants to get in.
Chris Sale is close to Hall of Fame worthy, but needs another decent season or two
Among active pitchers across MLB, only three pitchers have more career rWAR than Sale's 55.8 rWAR: Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, and Max Scherzer. All three of those guys are surefire Hall of Famers and all three are limping to the finish line of their illustrious careers. Importantly though, they all are well ahead of Sale when it comes to WAR and all three have multiple Cy Young Awards.
Sale certainly has a lot of things going for him. His Cy Young win in 2024 finally added an important piece of hardware to his career's mantle. He has made 387 career appearances including 307 starts and his career 3.02 ERA across over 2,000 innings hangs with pretty much anyone currently in Cooperstown. With his nod this year, Sale now has nine career All-Star appearances in addition to eight top 6 Cy Young finishes including his win.
That is incredibly impressive and has him on track for induction into the Hall of Fame if he can play another couple of years, but he isn't their yet in all likelihood. A chunk of voters could be convinced by his current numbers, but his 55.9 WAR would barely rank in the top 50 among starters currently in the Hall of Fame and the guys below him either probably wouldn't get in by modern standards or are unique cases like Sandy Koufax.
If Sale comes back this season for the Braves and pitches well and then has more more good season, he is probably a lock. That would put him will into the 60-65 WAR range in all likelihood. Only 14 starters in baseball history with 60 or more WAR who are not currently active haven't been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Zack Greinke is basically a lock when he is eligible and most of the rest either have PED/character reasons for not making it in or who played in the 1800's which is different. One hopes that Sale doesn't get the David Cone or Mark Buehrle treatment, but making another All-Star team this year certainly helps the cause.