If the Atlanta Braves decide to trade Vaughn Grissom, this offseason might be the perfect time to move the talented hitter with no clear position.
With a farm system that doesn't have a lot of top-end talent, as the Braves look to make upgrades this offseason, one of their best trade chips may still be Vaughn Grissom.
The infielder will turn 23 in January and is coming off a record-breaking season at Triple-A where he had 36 doubles while also slashing .330/.419/.501 in 102 games.
And his production at the major league level the past two seasons hasn't been bad with a .287/.339/.407 slash line.
The problem is the Braves don't have anywhere to play him with almost every position locked up.
There is an opening in left field, but the Braves seem unwilling to give a shot there.
Orlando Arcia's second-half decline at the plate possibly opens the door for Grissom to get another look at shortstop, but Alex Anthopoulos emphasized after the season that Arcia is the shortstop.
It looks like Grissom will winter ball in Puerto Rico to continue his development as an infielder. Is this a ploy by the Braves to retain his trade value as a shortstop?
Either way, other than moving AJ Smith-Shawver or Hurston Waldrep -- which won't happen -- Grissom provides the most trade value.
What Could You Get in a Trade for Grissom?
Without knowing who is available it's hard to pick names of players you could get for Grissom, but one thing is for sure, the Braves shouldn't be trading Grissom for a rental like they did last year moving Justyn-Henry Malloy for one year of Joe Jimenez.
While the Braves ultimately got what they traded for with Jimenez, that's still a huge risk.
If the Braves are going to move Grissom, it makes sense to move him for a middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher with years of control.
The problem is, who is willing to give up young, good, controllable starting pitching?
But with the future of the starting rotation in flux after 2024, it might be a good idea to trade Grissom for someone who could fill one of those spots over the next several seasons.
If Grissom is never going to get the opportunity he deserves in Atlanta, then they might as well trade him.
And the more time he spends in the minors, the more his value will decline over time.
Grissom isn't going to bring in a frontline starter, but maybe someone like JP Sears from Oakland or Xzavion Curry from the Guardians could make sense as guys who are under control for a while and could provide solid depth at the back of the rotation.
The Braves have seen everything they need to see from Grissom. Either they believe he's part of their plans at the big leagues, or they need to move him this offseason.
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