BOSTON FLIPS GRISSOM IN SHOCK MOVE
The Boston Red Sox have officially made a shocking mid-Winter Meetings trade, sending infielder Vaughn Grissom to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for minor league outfielder Isaiah Jackson.
The move marks the end of a difficult, underwhelming tenure for Grissom in Boston. He was the main prospect acquired for Chris Sale—who went on to win a Cy Young Award with the Braves—making the trade an immediate, undeniable organizational failure.
Grissom played in just 31 major league games for the Red Sox in 2024, hitting a disappointing $.190$ before spending the entire 2025 season stuck in Triple-A, despite posting respectable numbers (.270 AVG, 13 HR) there.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY OR NECESSARY CUT?
The immediate debate swirling around Red Sox Nation is split: Was this a massive missed opportunity for Boston, or was this a necessary cut to clear a roster spot and move on from a player who never found a fit?
Many fans and analysts argue the Red Sox never gave the former top prospect a fair, consistent opportunity. He was constantly shuffled between positions and was repeatedly passed over for a promotion in favor of other prospects.
However, the counter-argument is that Grissom simply became redundant. The rise of players like Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell made Grissom, with his defensive question marks, a man without a clear spot in the future infield plans.
Red Sox General Manager Craig Breslow is reportedly prioritizing players who fit the team’s long-term vision. Trading Grissom clears a crucial spot on the $40$-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft.
A DESPERATELY NEEDED FRESH START
For Vaughn Grissom, the move is being universally seen as the fresh start he desperately needed to finally resurrect his once-lofty trajectory as a major league regular.
The Angels organization, known for aggressively pursuing high-upside players, will offer Grissom a much clearer, less competitive path to major league playing time, potentially at second or third base.
The mixed reaction from Red Sox fans ranges from relief that the “Chris Sale trade return” drama is over, to frustration that the team failed to develop a talented, young infielder who still has high offensive potential.
Ultimately, the success of this trade for Boston will be judged solely on the development of the newly acquired outfield prospect, Isaiah Jackson. For Grissom, his chance to prove his worth begins anew in Anaheim.
