The Los Angeles Angels bolstered their infield depth by acquiring infielder Vaughn Grissom from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for outfield prospect Isaiah Jackson. Grissom, a former top prospect, brings versatility across multiple positions but has struggled in the majors. The move provides the 24-year-old with a fresh start amid ongoing roster adjustments for both teams.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- During the Winter Meetings, the Angels traded minor league outfielder Isaiah Jackson to the Red Sox for infielder Vaughn Grissom, aiming to add depth and upside to their infield. Grissom, 24, is out of minor league options and can play second base, shortstop, third base, and the outfield, potentially serving as a replacement for free agent Luis Rengifo.
Angels general manager Perry Minasian expressed optimism about Grissom's potential. “He’ll come in and compete,” Minasian said. “He’s a former Top 100 prospect. I was with Atlanta when we drafted him. He’s talented and has a contact bat, which is something we're looking for. But no promises. Just come in and compete and we’ll see.” Minasian added that a change of scenery could benefit Grissom, who has a career .303/.392/.458 slash line in the minors but has hit .255 with -0.1 bWAR in 95 major league games.
Grissom's major league highlights include a strong 2022 rookie season with the Braves, where he batted .291/.353/.440 with five homers, five stolen bases, and 18 RBIs in 41 games. However, his performance dipped in 2023 (.280/.313/.347, no homers, nine RBIs in 23 games) and further in 2024 with Boston (.190/.246/.219, no homers, six RBIs in 31 games). He missed the 2025 majors due to hamstring issues early and plantar fasciitis in September, but hit .270/.342/.441 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs in 96 games at Triple-A Worcester.
The Red Sox, who acquired Grissom in the 2023 Chris Sale trade, viewed the deal as clearing a path for other prospects like Marcelo Mayer. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow noted, “Vaughn is a great kid and a great player and still 24 years old, so I think that there's a bright future ahead of him. But just thinking about the way that our roster is coming together, the path to having an impact here is probably not super clear.”
Jackson, 21, was the Angels' No. 25 prospect and an eighth-round pick in the 2025 Draft from Arizona State. He batted .219 with one homer and four RBIs in 10 games at High-A Tri-City. Breslow praised Jackson's power potential and defense. The Angels remain active in pursuing additional infielders, with Anthony Rendon sidelined by hip surgery and considerations to shift Christian Moore to third base. They also have utility infielder Oswald Peraza on the roster.
Trade grades from analysts gave the Red Sox a B- for gaining a promising outfielder, while the Angels received a C, reflecting Grissom's unproven major league track record.
