The scenario with Grissom is considerably analogous, although he’s not a pitcher and didn’t have fairly the identical prospect pedigree. Atlanta took him within the eleventh spherical of the 2019 draft, however he put up big numbers on his method up the minor league ladder. By the summer season of 2022, he had grow to be a high 100 prospect. He slashed .322/.411/.480 on the farm over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Atlanta known as him up in August of 2023, skipping him over the Triple-A degree. He put up a giant .291/.353/.440 line in his first 156 huge league plate appearances.
Going into 2023, Atlanta let Dansby Swanson depart through free company, signing with the Cubs. Grissom appeared to have a superb shot at being the long-term reply there. There have been questions on his protection however the bat appeared legit. Ron Washington, then on Atlanta’s teaching workers, labored with Grissom on his protection all through the winter. On the finish of spring coaching, Atlanta surprisingly determined to present Orlando Arcia the shortstop job. Grissom was optioned to Triple-A.
Atlanta known as up Grissom just a few instances that 12 months however he hit simply .280/.313/.347 for a 79 wRC+ in his 80 plate appearances. However he nonetheless confirmed his offensive potential within the minors, as he hit .330/.419/.501 for a 138 wRC+ in Triple-A.
Going into 2024, Atlanta flipped Grissom to the Pink Sox for Chris Sale. On the time, it appeared like a coup for the Pink Sox. Sale had barely pitched from 2020 to 2022 on account of accidents. He had made 20 begins in 2023 however with a 4.30 earned run common. Since he was going into his age-35 season, the ultimate assured season of his contract, the expectations weren’t excessive for him going ahead.
That deal was a giant bust for Boston. Sale posted a 2.38 ERA in 2024 and received the Nationwide League Cy Younger award. Grissom, in the meantime, has largely been caught in Triple-A since being traded. Boston gave him 114 huge league plate appearances in 2024 however he hit simply .190/.246/.219 in these. He has nonetheless been placing up respectable Triple-A numbers, however not fairly as gaudy as earlier than. Because the begin of 2024, he has a .266/.357/.417 line and 106 wRC+ on the Triple-A degree. He performed all 4 infield spots throughout his time with Triple-A Worcester. He completed the 2025 season on the injured record on account of plantar fasciitis.
Grissom exhausted his closing choice season in 2025, which means he shall be out of choices going ahead. The Sox have an unsure infield image in the mean time however will possible tackle it with additional strikes this offseason. Since they only made the playoffs, they are going to be trying to compete once more and absolutely didn’t wish to depend on Grissom after a few uninspiring years.
For the Halos, they’ve been mired in mediocrity for some time now, having final made the playoffs over a decade in the past. They want quite a bit to go proper in the event that they’re going to interrupt that streak. They are going to most likely make some extra clear-cut upgrades in some unspecified time in the future this winter however have to this point been taking probabilities on low-certainty upside performs.
Their infield has a few openings in the mean time. They’ve Zach Neto locked in at shortstop and Nolan Schanuel at first base. Second and third base are up for grabs. On the scorching nook, Anthony Rendon is technically signed for one more season however might be going to retire. The Angels gave Christian Moore an opportunity to seize the second base job in 2025 however he didn’t reap the benefits of that chance. Denzer Guzmán, Oswald Peraza and Kyren Paris are additionally on the roster however nobody in that group has a observe report of main league success.
There’s a path for Grissom to maybe earn some taking part in time at second or third, or maybe as a bench/utility man. It’s potential these paths get blocked with future strikes however they’re there for now. Grissom nonetheless has lower than two years of service time. If he can thrive as an Angel, they’ll retain him for 5 full seasons earlier than he could be slated at no cost company.
To get that shot on Grissom, they’re giving up an outfielder from deep of their system. Jackson was simply chosen within the eighth spherical of the draft this summer season. He has ten video games of expertise as an expert, which got here at Excessive-A, the place he hit .219 /.324/.344. He turns 22 in Might. For the Sox, they’re possible comfortable to get any type of return in any respect for a man who was getting pushed off the roster anyway.
