It’s getting harder to envision Vaughn Grissom having a future with the Boston Red Sox.
Acquired in 2023 in the trade that sent Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves, Grissom endured injuries and struggles throughout his first season in Boston. But the 24-year-old entered this spring training with a legitimate shot at winning the second base job despite the presence of star prospect Kristian Campbell.
However, Grissom was optioned to minor league camp earlier this week and now is blocked by both Campbell and David Hamilton — as well as, potentially, Marcelo Mayer. Multiple reports indicate Campbell is tracking to win the second base job.
While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora offered his thoughts on Grissom, who surely is frustrated by his situation.
“It’s like any conversation when you get demoted or (they) let you go in your job, it’s not easy,” Cora said, via Chris Smith of MassLive. “It’s not. It’s not one that you’re looking forward to. He did everything possible in the offseason. He killed it. We asked him to show up at 220 (pounds). He showed up at 221. He turned the double play well. There’s a few things that we talk (about) that I think he can do better defensively.”
Cora added: “Just go down there and do your thing. As a player, especially where he’s at right now, just go down there and kill it. Be selfish. Do your thing. Show everybody that you can be a big leaguer. And not only with us, right? I think in the industry. Show them that you’re still young, you’re still a good athlete and just go. But this is the route we’re going. We haven’t yet made a decision about second base, whatever. But we’re getting close. And he’s not in the equation. He needs to play, too. He needs to go down there and play.”
Where things go from here for Grissom remains to be seen. While he still could carve out a role with the Red Sox, perhaps at a different position, the best outcome for both sides would be for him to excel at Triple-A this season before being traded to another team with an opening in the infield.
Speaking of trades, Red Sox fans understandably are growing worried about Rafael Devers’ future in Boston.
