Chris Sale to the Braves for Vaughn Grissom
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39208393/sources-red-sox-deal-chris-sale-braves-vaughn-grissom
WOW! Bold move.
Thanks for everything Sale, especially 2018.
Is Grissom any good or is this mostly a salary dump for the Sox?
Grissom tore up Triple-A and is only 22 years old. There's a lot of hype for him as a 2B and that's where he's projected to play with Boston. Atlanta did try using him at SS but it didn't work so well and also the Braves are pretty loaded as is so there weren't many spots for Grissom. He did hit his first HR at Fenway Park lol. Grissom isn't a power hitter but he's a really good hitter, and I think a reason he isn't seen as a shortstop going forward is because he has "modest range", but that's fine for 2B.
I think it's a mix of both. Sox save 10.5M, but also, I think it's just a needed separation for all parties (Sale and Boston). The last 3 years have just been inconsistent due to his health/injuries and the Sox were also probably sick of just relying on him to return each of the last 3 seasons. Now hopefully they go out and add 2 more pitchers to go along with Giolito-Bello-Pivetta in the rotation. Sale meanwhile removed his NTC and has a chance to compete for a WS with Atlanta in the NL
Adding Grissom does also make a few of their redundant OF/SS/2B prospects more expendable in a potential trade for an ace-caliber pitcher like Luzardo, Burnes, Framber Valdez, Cabrera, etc. And it's likely the Sox will add Teoscar Hernandez and he plays OF.