Hot Stove League Update: BoSox and Braves Swap Sale and Grissos
The top of the free agent market remained congealed over the New Years Holiday weekend but the Braves and Red Sox pulled of an interesting one-for-one challenge trade, Vaughn Grissom IF for Chris Sale LHP. Grissom is a young player with a perceived upside who was blocked in the Braves organization while Sale is on oft-injured ace who wore out his welcome in Boston but may finally be healthy which makes for an intriguing combination of upside and risk on both sides.
Vaughn Grissom IF. DOB: 1/5/2001. B-R, T-R. 6’3″, 210 lbs.
2023(AAA): .330/.419/.501, 8 HR, 13 SB, 12.0 BB%, 14.1 K%, 468 PA.
2023(MLB): .280/.313/.347, 2.5 BB%, 18.8 K%, 80 PA.
Grissom jumped from AA to the majors in 2022 and impressed. Spent most of 2023 in AAA but hit very well with a terrific K/BB. There is plenty of upside here and the Red Sox expect him to be their starting 2B in 2024. The Braves had Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia ahead of him on their middle IF depth chart. There was talk of him moving to LF but the trade for Jarred Kelenic put the brakes on that idea. So the Braves used the surplus to bolster an already pretty good rotation and were willing to sacrifice the long term upside to win now.
Chris Sale LHP. DOB: 3/30/1989. 6’6″, 183 lbs.
2023: 6-5, 4.30, 102.2 IP, 10.96 K/9, 2.54 BB/9, 3.72 xFIP.
We all know who Chris Sale is. A true ace when healthy. He missed most of 2021 and 2022 seasons with a UCL injury. Missed a couple of months last year with a stress reaction in his scapula but came back to pitch well over the final 2 months allowing just 2 ER in 16 IP over his last 3 starts. The Braves are rolling the dice that he can stay healthy enough for on season to give them that extra ace to win the division and get them through an increasingly grueling postseason schedule. The Red Sox are kicking in $17 M out of his 27.5 M salary. There is a $20 M team option with a buyout for 2024. Again, Sale is well worth it if healthy and the Braves are only taking on short term risk here.
Even with the Addition of Lucas Giolito RHP, the Red Sox this trade leaves the Red Sox woefully short on pitching. They will undoubtedly be looking to add pitching through additional FA signings or the trade market. They have a modest surplus of young OF’s.
