ORLANDO, Fla. – The Chris Sale chapter in Boston Red Sox history officially closed Tuesday afternoon with the trade of infielder Vaughn Grissom to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for outfield prospect Isaiah Jackson.
When the Red Sox acquired Grissom, now 24, from the Atlanta Braves on Dec. 30, 2023, they expected him to be their everyday second baseman. They raved about the power potential, recalling how he blasted a two-run homer over the Green Monster when he debuted with the Braves on Aug. 10, 2022.
Instead, a groin injury derailed Grissom’s Red Sox tenure before the end of that first spring training. They were preparing to activate him in late April when he fell ill with the flu and lost several pounds from his already-lean frame.
Grissom made his Red Sox debut on May 3, 2024, but by June 1 he was injured again, exiting the game in the second inning with a hamstring strain. Over 31 games he batted .190 with a .465 OPS, 20 hits, three doubles, 10 runs and six batted in.
This year, the Red Sox optioned Grissom to Triple-A Worcester to begin the season. Despite various injuries to the big-league infield throughout the season, never called him up. He landed on the minor league injured list in late August with right foot inflammation. Two weeks later, a plantar fasciitis diagnosis officially ended his season.
Grissom grew frustrated with his role, or lack thereof, and made it known he would welcome a trade. On an Angels team seemingly always in rebuild mode, he should get the fresh start he needs.
Sale, meanwhile, spent the ’24 season finally completing the comeback he never managed in Boston following his April 2020 Tommy John surgery. He led the majors with a 2.38 ERA, 2.09 FIP, and 18 wins, topped the National League with 225 strikeouts, was an All-Star for the first time since 2018, and won his first career Gold Glove and Cy Young awards. Over two seasons with the Braves, the former Sox southpaw is 25-8 with a 2.46 ERA in 50 games.
The Angels selected Jackson out of Arizona State University in the eighth round of this year’s draft. He was their No. 25 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
The trade also opens a spot on the 40-man roster, a notable benefit ahead of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft.
