ORLANDO — On Day 2 of the Winter Meetings, the Red Sox have struck a trade.
Boston has dealt infielder Vaughn Grissom to the Angels in exchange for minor league outfielder Isaiah Jackson, sources confirmed Tuesday. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first on the deal.
Grissom, 24, departs the Red Sox after two ill-fated seasons with the club. Acquired in the major trade that sent Chris Sale to the Braves in December 2023, Grissom appeared in just 31 games for Boston, all in 2024. He spent most of his first season in Boston injured, then fell down the depth chart and spent all of 2025 at Triple-A Worcester. With infielders like Marcelo Mayer, David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, Tristan Gray, Romy Gonzalez, Nate Eaton and Kristian Campbell all in the mix for roster spots come spring training, Grissom was expendable — and now gets his second change-of-scenery in three years.
Grissom was a highly touted infield prospect when the Red Sox acquired him for Sale but never lived up to that potential with the club. After being a prime candidate to start at second base last year, a preseason hamstring strain delayed the start of Grissom’s 2024 season until May 3. He then hit .148 with a .367 OPS and 19 strikeouts in 87 plate appearances before suffering another hamstring strain in early June. He rehabbed, then was optioned for the minors before returning for an eight-game stint at the end of the season.
Grissom once again had the chance to seize the Opening Day second base spot in 2025 but didn’t impress enough in spring training and was an early cut by Alex Cora. The job eventually went to Campbell and six different players cycled through the position while Grissom remained at Triple-A. In Worcester, he hit .270 with 13 homers, 24 doubles and a .783 OPS in 96 games before a foot injury ended his season prematurely. Grissom appeared at all four infield spots for the WooSox.
In exchange for Grissom, the Red Sox acquired Jackson, a recent draftee with only 10 games of major league experience under his belt. The 21-year-old outfielder was the Halos’ eighth-round pick out of Arizona State in July and signed for $297,500. A 6-foot-5, 205-lb. left-handed hitter, Jackson is a plus defender with some pop, as evidenced by his 18 homers for the Sun Devils in the spring. He’s the latest 2025 draftee added by the Red Sox, who have also acquired Luke Heyman from Seattle and Adonys Guzman from Pittsburgh this winter.
Moving Grissom opens up a 40-man spot for the Red Sox, who now have the ability to select someone in Wednesday’s Rule 5 draft. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has hinted that the club could target a relief arm there.
