Vaughn Grissom
The Red Sox acquired former Braves prospect Vaughn Grissom through the Chris Sale trade this offseason. And, by many accounts, Grissom will end up being a fine payoff for Sale.
Braves TV analyst Nick Green lauded Grissom for his work ethic on an episode of the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast. He also said that playing him every day could result in a complete defensive transformation for the 23-year-old. And he's already working on that side of the ball after spending a week at Trevor Story's infield camp this offseason.
Grissom had better success in the big leagues in 2022 than he did in 2023, but his major league at-bats show a lot of promise. He's hit .287/.339/.407 in 64 big-league games, and his first career home run came at Fenway Park.
The former top prospect is signed until 2026, but if he has a successful first season in a Red Sox uniform, the Sox should consider making him part of their long-term future. Such an investment wouldn't hamstring the organization, either, because it'd be below market value. So if Grissom (or anybody else who signs one of these hypothetical deals) falters, the front office can rebound rather easily.