Braves Country has wondered all winter what the Sale price would be for Vaughn Grissom. Today, AA set the price, trading Grissom to the BoSox for veteran LH SP Chris Sale, plus $17 million!
GRISSOM TOUTED
Grissom was touted as the heir-apparent when Dansby Swanson was allowed to walk and receive a massive contract from the Cubs last winter. He filled in for Ozzie Albies when Albies was injured, hitting .291 with five home runs in 2022. The lanky middle-infielder seemed to be the odds-on favorite to win the shortstop job heading into Spring Training 2023. However, seemingly out of nowhere, Grissom and Braden Shewmake were both sent to AAA-Gwinnett in favor of Orlando Arcia, who had an All-Star season
The Stripers were the beneficiary of Grissom’s services throughout 2023. The 23 year-old raked in AAA, slashing .330/.419/.501. He had 36 doubles, 8 HRs, and 4 triples there. Grissom loves the Braves and this will be a bitter pill for the young man to swallow. He was willing to do anything for the team he loves, including going to Gwinnett last year and being willing to try his luck in the outfield.
AA went on record early this off-season, explaining his belief that Grissom’s bat will play at the MLB level. Grissom has been the primary bargaining chip throughout the winter, and the Braves used him to get their man today.
SALE PRICE
The Sale price? A 34 year-old lefty starter who is a seven-time All-Star. Sale has a lifetime record of 120-80, with a 3.10 ERA. In 2023, he was 6-5 in 20 starts for the Red Sox. Sale logged 102.2 innings with a 1.130 WHIP. Obviously, at this stage of his career, Sale’s stuff isn’t what it once was, but he brings great value to the rotation.
For seven seasons (2012-2018) Sale was one of the best in the game. In six of those seven seasons, the former 21st round selection was top five in Cy Young voting, twice winning as many as 17 games. He has a career 11.1 K/9 ratio and just 2.1 BB/9.
Sale will be be paid $27.5MM this year, with the Sox paying some of that contract. Then, in 2025, the Braves have a club option for $20MM. The dude waived his no trade clause to allow the deal to go through. He wants to pitch for the Braves, and he makes the Braves better.
The fact that Lucas Giolito got a 2/$48.5 deal yesterday makes me pretty excited about this deal. I like Grissom, but I like AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep more. I believe those boys both have top-of-the-rotation futures ahead of them, so not dealing them along with Grissom for someone like Dylan Cease or Corbin Burnes is a win. I’m grateful that AA is a cheat code.
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