When the Boston Red Sox traded Chris Sale away, the hope was that moving on from the oft-injured veteran would bring stability and fresh arms to the rotation. Instead, Sale has become one of the bigger what-if stories in recent Red Sox history.

Sale had his share of dominant stretches in Boston, but injuries and inconsistency prevented him from being the ace the team once envisioned. The Red Sox ultimately moved on, and by the time the deal was done, it was clear that both sides were ready for a fresh start. Sale signed with the Atlanta Braves, and he has suddenly turned into one of the most reliable and dominant starters in baseball.

Chris Sale is finally having the success that Red Sox fans dreamt of

Entering the weekend, Sale has an ERA of 2.50 through his first 10 starts on the season. His success has quickly turned him into a workhorse and staff anchor for the Braves, and he is striking out batters at an elite rate while keeping his WHIP well below 1.10.

The command, durability, and that signature wipeout stuff that sometimes disappeared in Boston have returned in a major way. There’s also likely going to be some regression, but it’s hard to take issue with the results he’s posting right now.

No, there shouldn’t be major regret for the Red Sox. They made the move they felt was necessary at the time. But in a season where the Red Sox rotation has searched for consistency, it’s hard not to think of what could have been with Sale leading the staff at Fenway.

The Red Sox are finally having the success that fans dreamt of — but it’s happening in Braves navy and scarlet.