Andrew Buller-Russ
On Friday, the Boston Red Sox signed Lucas Giolito. But that was nothing compared to what would come next.
According to Jeff Passan, the Red Sox traded seven-time All-Star Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in exchange for top infield prospect Vaughn Grissom. The trade is a one-for-one exchange, with the Red Sox even paying part of Sale’s contract to help ship him out of town.
To complete the deal, Sale had to waive his no-trade clause, but with him on the move to a 100-win team like Atlanta, that was no issue for the lanky left-handed pitcher.
The Braves, already one of baseball’s best teams, have long been on the hunt for improvements to their starting rotation as they seek a complementary piece to go with Spencer Strider. By adding Sale, the Braves get a former World Series winner with a career ERA of just 3.10.
Sale is under contract for $27.5 million in 2024, and the Braves hold a club option for another $20 million in 2025. Yet, they’re also parting with Grissom, who had no immediate path to a major role in Atlanta.
However, the 23-year-old infielder now appears in line to snatch Boston’s starting second baseman position after struggling as a shortstop in 2023.
Still, Grissom has impressed with his bat. Despite a limited sample size, Grissom has an MLB career batting average of .287 and an OPS+ of 105. Not bad for a player who’s still facing new pitchers nearly every time he steps to the plate.
In the end, the Braves part with an expendable prospect while boosting their pitching staff in an attempt to compete for a World Series title in 2024. For Boston, they make a win-later move by trading a proven vet for a young player who they hope will develop into a franchise cornerstone in time.
Related: Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets linked to 6x All-Star in free agency
