The Atlanta Braves were already happy about the Chris Sale trade if we are being honest. In giving up Vaughn Grissom who did not seem to have a path to playing time in Atlanta, the Braves got a future Cy Young winner and a guy who remains the ace of their staff today. Considering they only had to pay part of his contract as well, that is a massive win.
Unfortunately for Grissom, his time in Boston has not gone nearly as well. While he has put up solid to good numbers in the minor leagues with the Red Sox, his relationship with the team was frayed due to the lack of opportunities he has gotten (and, in his mind, deserves) and a divorce became inevitable.
That divorce finally came on Tuesday and, like so many other ex-Braves players over the years, Grissom finds himself with the Angels now after the latest Winter Meetings trade.
The Red Sox are trading Vaughn Grissom to the Angels for OF Isaiah Jackson, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 9, 2025
Former Braves top prospect Vaughn Grissom on the move again with trade to Angels after falling out with Red Sox
For the Braves, the terms of this deal are inconsequential as they already ended up way ahead. Grissom is clearly a talented player that has some issues with communication and authority. LA is a team that needs to take some gambles in order to find production. In sending Jackson, a power over hit prospect of questionable value, they are taking on little risk other than potentially having to deal with Grissom's tantrums.
There is a chance that Grissom finds stability and success with the Angels, but the list of reasons why the Braves struck gold with the Sale trade just keeps getting longer. Even if Grissom does end up being good, Sale has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since joining the Braves. Atlanta would take losing Grissom's talent (and baggage) and giving Boston some salary relief to land Sale again 100 times out of 100.
One hopes this is the end of Grissom's saga and he ends up doing well. Unfortunately, his history of publicly complaining about playing time, opportunities, and whatever other grievances pop into his head suggest that we haven't heard the last of him. This time, it is just Perry Minasian's problem.