In December 2023, the Atlanta Braves made a daring transfer, buying and selling for the getting old and oft-injured Chris Sale, a seven-time All-Star beginning pitcher. They then signed him to a two-year deal value $38 million by way of 2025, with a $18 million membership choice for 2026.
The Braves despatched the promising, soon-to-be 23-year-old infielder Vaughn Grissom again to the Crimson Sox in trade for Sale. The commerce has been a boon to the Braves to date and it’s seeking to be a superb transfer.
Sale had solely pitched in 31 video games since 2019. He hadn’t began greater than 27 video games or pitched greater than 158 innings since 2017. The commerce and consequent contract extension appeared very dangerous, however these aggressive strikes have paid off in an enormous manner for Atlanta.
Sale is 13-3 in his 18 begins in 2024. Over 110 innings, he has an NL-leading ERA of two.70. With 11.5 Ok/9IP, he has struck out extra batters per 9 innings than his profession mark and MLB report of 11.1. He has been the dominating pitcher who completed within the prime six in AL Cy Younger voting for seven straight years. There’s a good likelihood that if he stays wholesome, he might win his first Cy Younger.
Grissom, however, has been a non-factor for the Crimson Sox. He was slated to begin at second subsequent to shortstop Trevor Story, however Grissom obtained damage in spring coaching, missed the primary month of the season after which obtained damage once more a month later. He is been out ever since, although he could possibly be again by August. Story additionally obtained damage (once more) and is out for the season.
The Crimson Sox had been in a little bit of a rebuild mode this final offseason, however they’ve carried out fairly nicely in 2024, most likely above expectations. Proper now, Boston holds the sixth and remaining playoff slot, however there may be nonetheless numerous season left. When Grissom returns, he might supply a spark for the Crimson Sox down the stretch.
To take action, he’ll must hit significantly better than he did in his first 23 video games of the season. In these video games, he produced a paltry slash line — .148/.207/.160 — with an virtually unfathomable OPS of .367. He had just one extra-base hit — a double — with three RBI. He might want to enhance on these numbers mightily if he desires common enjoying time.
Grissom was an acquisition for the longer term. He is underneath staff management till 2030 and at 23, he has loads of time to enhance his expertise and make constructive contributions for the Crimson Sox down the street.
At this level, the commerce has been an unimaginable success for the Braves and an early failure for the Crimson Sox, however some of these trades cannot be really graded so quickly. Sale, nevertheless, has offered the manufacturing the Braves wished, and Grissom remains to be a piece in progress.
