Red Sox Acquire Isaiah Jackson From Angels In Vaughn Grissom Trade

Image credit: Isaiah Jackson (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

The Red Sox moved on from a trade they would rather forget, sending Vaughn Grissom, who they acquired for Chris Sale two years ago, to the Angels in a modest Winter Meetings trade. The move is likely a good one for Grissom and potentially the Angels, a team that could use more infield depth.

In return, the Red Sox got Isaiah Jackson, a 2025 draftee who provides power and center field defense if his bat continues to develop.

ANGELS ACQUIRE

Vaughn Grissom, 2B
Age: 24

The Braves drafted Grissom in 2019 and he reached the majors by 2022. He fared well in separate big league stints in 2022 and 2023, but he became a trade candidate when the Braves determined he wasn’t an everyday shortstop with Ozzie Albies entrenched at second base.

The Red Sox acquired him in the Dec. 30, 2023 trade that sent Chris Sale to the Braves. Sale’s resurgence with the Braves made Grissom’s struggles with the Red Sox more glaring in comparison. Grissom battled hamstring injuries to both hamstrings and bounced on and off the injured list in 2024. He hit .190/.246/.219 in 31 MLB games with the Red Sox in between.

By 2025, Grissom was no longer in Boston’s plans. He hit .270/.342/.441 in Triple-A Worcester in a season that ended early because of plantar fasciitis.

By acquiring Grissom, the Angels are giving the 24-year-old infielder one more chance to carve out a significant big league role. Christian Moore is expected to be the Angels’ second baseman, but he struggled in the majors in 2025 and faces defensive questions at second base. If Grissom can stay healthy and prove he can be a reliable defender, he could find a way to 300+ plate appearances with the Angels. Grissom has already used three options, so he cannot be optioned to the minors unless he is granted a fourth option later this offseason.

RED SOX ACQUIRE

Isaiah Jackson, OF
Age: 21

Jackson was a three-year starter at Arizona State who hit 18 homers with a 1.032 OPS as a junior before the Angels drafted him in the eight round in 2025. They sent him to High-A Tri-City for a brief 10-game professional debut later that summer, where he hit .219 with one homer and 13 strikeouts. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, he’s a well-built lefthanded-hitting center fielder who is a plus defender despite only average speed. He has the bat speed to have solid power with a swing geared especially toward pullside damage, but there are some questions about how well he will hit against more advanced pitching, especially against breaking balls. He was slated to rank 25th on the Angels’ Top 30 Prospects rankings in the upcoming Baseball America Prospect Handbook.