The Boston Red Sox have a packed 40-man roster as the offseason approaches. They'll need to free up some room for players who will eventually need to be moved off the 60-day injured list, which disappears in the offseason. If Boston has any interest in protecting any players from the Rule 5 Draft, it will also have to scrounge up roster spots for them.
The Red Sox have already outrighted pitchers Isaiah Campbell and José De León to Triple-A to open their former 40-man spots. More roster spots will open naturally as the offseason begins and players hit free agency, such as Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, Justin Wilson and more.
With all impending free agents discounted, the Red Sox will be left with 41 players on their 40-man. Boston could designate players for assignment or make trades to free up some roster real estate, and there are a few clear candidates for each. Red Sox reporter Chris Cotillo of MassLive has suggested Vaughn Grissom could be an option for either solution.
"Vaughn Grissom remains on the 40-man roster but is one of the more clear change-of-scenery candidates in baseball after not cracking the big league roster once in 2025," Cotillo wrote in a piece from October 23 detailing the Sox's infield options.
Red Sox insider highlights multiple ways Boston could part with Vaughn Grissom this offseason
Cotillo also noted that Grissom's roster spot could become "more tenuous" as the offseason goes on. If the Red Sox make enough additions and hope to protect some of their prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, Grissom could become a casualty to their plans.
It wouldn't be that surprising to see the Red Sox part with Grissom so soon. They acquired him from the Braves in 2024 as their sole return in the Chris Sale trade, one of Craig Breslow's first moves as chief baseball officer. Since the deal, Grissom has posted just 31 games in the big leagues and didn't get any playing time in the majors in 2025 (despite deserving a shot).
When the Red Sox glossed over Grissom as a promotion candidate to cover the infield for Marcelo Mayer, who sustained a season ending wrist injury, he was honest with reporters about his thoughts on his future in Boston (subscription required).
“It’s a weird one because I don’t really expect much more opportunity here just because decisions that were made were made, and it kind of didn’t involve me,” Grissom said to Katie Morrison-O'Day of MassLive.
Grissom's potentially short tenure with the Red Sox highlights just how huge a failure the Sale trade has been. Grissom is still young and has potential to stick in the big leagues, but his trade value is lower now than ever because of his limited playing time with the Red Sox. He deserves a change of scenery and an organization that will give him a chance, and he has no reliable path to the majors with Boston.