The Braves have been on the fence about Vaughn Grissom for years now. Is it finally time they get rid of him?
Heading into the trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves may have one sneaky piece they want to deal: Vaughn Grissom.
Not defensively strong enough to play shortstop and not consistent enough at the plate, Grissom doesn't have a long-term future on the Braves. He can't replace Dansby Swanson, that much has been proven as he slid down the depth chart behind Orlando Arcia this year.
In the last month or so, another player may have leapfrogged Grissom, too, and that's top prospect Braden Shewmake.
Down in Triple-A, Shewmake just hit for the cycle for the first time in Gwinnett Stripers history.
The 2019 first-rounder made some mechanical changes to his game earlier this month and has since been slashing .473/.586/.850 in the last seven games.
Shewmake is living proof that a slugger in a slump can improve his form and turn his season around under the right circumstances — can the same be said for Grissom?
Braves trading Vaughn Grissom at the deadline feels inevitable
Wavering between shortstop and second base duties, Grissom slashed .277/.314/.308 with only two extra base hits and two walks in 19 games in Atlanta this season before being optioned.
Given underlying concerns about his defense, Grissom just doesn't have a clear future in Atlanta anymore. The Braves should seriously consider shopping him in August as they already have his potential successor, Shewmake, next in line to add some extra firepower to their hitting rotation.
In Wednesday's game for the Stripers, Shewmake notched a first-inning double, third-inning homer and single, and topped it all off with a blazing triple in his final at-bat in the ninth. It was fate in the making.
Both Grissom and Shewmake were rightfully considered young rising stars for the Braves organization, and so far in the 2023 season, it's becoming abundantly clear who's on a straighter trajectory to success. Trade Grissom, get a decent return to boost the team's World Series-winning hopes, and trust that Shewmake will develop into the player they need him to be.
Grissom had his chance. It's somebody else's turn, now.
