The Braves biggest splash of the offseason came when they swung a deal for seven-time All-Star Chris Sale, sending Vaughn Grissom to the Boston Red Sox.
This was one of those typical buy-low acquisitions that Alex Anthopoulos has become known for since taking over as general manager in Atlanta. Chris Sale dealt with a plethora of injuries during his time in Boston, and the Red Sox were ready to move on. So much so, they were even willing to eat a large chunk of his salary in the trade.
To this point, it’s worked out marvelously for the Braves. Sale came into the season as healthy as he’s been in a long time, and it hasn’t taken him much time to shake off the rust. Through six starts, he’s 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 0.955 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. Sale’s injury history is always going to be a concern, but if he stays healthy, there’s no reason to believe he can’t be one of the best pitchers in the National League.
That might kill Red Sox fans to see, but tonight, they’ll get their first opportunity to watch Vaughn Grissom in action. He has been activated from the IL after suffering a hamstring injury during Spring Training and will start at second base.
Seeing Sale have success in Atlanta may be a gut punch for the people of Boston, but they are going to love Vaughn Grissom. He’s an elite level hitter that has been major-league ready with the stick for quite some time. The issue was always his defense and fit with the Braves. He couldn’t handle shortstop defensively, and there wasn’t another place for him to play in Atlanta. This is a trade that very well could end up being a win for both sides.
The Braves have been without their All-Star catcher Sean Murphy since Opening Day after he suffered an oblique injury. Obliques are typically tricky and can take months to heal from, even minor ones. It’s been a long road back for Murphy, but he took a massive step in the right direction this week.
