Will Not - LHP Chris Sale
While likely an obvious choice, Sale will not begin the 2024 season in Triple-A, but rather in the major leagues.
Acquired via trade by the Braves this offseason, Sale comes to Atlanta off a stellar six seasons with the Boston Red Sox (2017-23, did not see action in 2020) in which he held a combined 3.27 ERA in 115 starts. A seven-time All-Star, Sale also finished top five in AL Cy Young voting during the 2017 and 2018 seasons in Boston, as well as from 2013-16 as a member of the Chicago White Sox.
Despite making only a combined 11 starts during the 2021-22 seasons combined, the 34-year-old is coming off s 2023 season in which he made 20 starts for the Red Sox. Across those 102.2 IP, the left-hander held a 6-5 record with a 4.30 ERA and 125:29 K:BB ratio, while also owning an 11 K/9.
Simply put, the Braves brought Sale to Atlanta to be a major impact player in the starting rotation, and assuming he is healthy coming out of spring training, the veteran will likely do just that from day one.