The Atlanta Braves shocked the baseball world earlier this week when they traded Vaughn Grissom to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Vaughn Grissom. As always, trading away a player who is favored by many fans caused a lot of emotions. Now that the shock wave has eased, let's take a look at why Grissom being traded was best best-case scenario for him.
1. Vaughn Grissom was facing a road block in Atlanta
Heading into the 2022 off-season, the Braves had just let shortstop Dansby Swanson walk in free agency to the Chicago Cubs. This appeared to open the door for prospect Vaughn Grissom to take the everyday job.
However, in a shocking turn of events, Orlando Arcia won the position, and rightfully so as he snagged a spot on the National League All-Star roster in 2023. Atlanta also continues to sign utility players such as Nicky Lopez and now David Fletcher who appears to be the current choice to start when either Albies or Arcia take a rare day off.
2. Grissom would have to change positions with the Braves
Since Grissom was facing a roadblock at his primary position, the only hope for the 22-year-old to see playing time in Atlanta would be to change positions.
Many people believed that Grissom could make the transition to the outfield and split time with newly acquired Jarred Kelenic in 2024. Going from shortstop to the outfield is not as easy as most people would think and would take a lot of work.
Grissom is more than capable of learning to play the outfield at a high level defensively, however, going to the Red Sox he will have a chance to play every day at his natural position which is what a player of his caliber deserves.
The only other option the Braves would have with Grissom would be to let him DH. Marcell Ozuna, who hit 40 home runs last year and drove in 100, is pretty much a lock for being the Braves DH in 2024. Ozuna is a liability with the glove so there is nowhere else for him to go.
3. Change of scenery could do Grissom good
The last couple of seasons in Atlanta have been full of uncertainty for Vaughn Grissom. He has been back and forth between the big leagues and the minors. There have been constant discussions of him potentially being traded or having to move positions to be successful.
This is a lot for a 22-year-old to manage. The pressure Grissom felt with all of these "what if" scenarios constantly buzzing around him had to be substantial. There is a possibility that Grissom could never reach his full potential with the Braves because he never felt free enough to play his game without some type of worry.
No doubt going to a team like the Boston Red Sox, Grissom will be facing a new type of pressure. The fan base will be expecting big things out of him just as they do everyone else. However, the change of scenery could also come with freedom that allows Grissom to show how good of a player he is.
Bonus note: Grissom will now be playing his home games where he launched his first career MLB home run.
Vaughn Grissom just hit the greatest first MLB home run you can hit pic.twitter.com/s2nKXTcah3
— Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) August 11, 2022
Losing a player with the talent and charisma Vaughn Grissom features is never easy. However, it was a necessary move to allow the Braves to have one of the best rotations in the National League. Grissom now gets the opportunity to show everyone why the Atlanta Braves thought so highly of him.