3 trade packages Chicago White Sox could get from Atlanta Braves for Dylan Cease
By Todd Welter
The Chicago White Sox pick up their long-term second baseman and potential ace pitcher in this deal.
This is a deal where the Sox have got to hope a bidding war and Atlanta’s desire to upgrade their rotation intersect.
Grissom is slated to start in left field next season. It is one of the reasons the Braves declined to pick up Eddie Rosario’s option. That is another reason why Gavin Sheets is being thrown into this deal as you can be sure the Braves want some cover in left.
Atlanta is known for taking on young players with power who are having middling careers and getting production out of them.
Grissom can solve the club’s never-ending problem at second base. He flashed loads of potential in 2022 when he played 41 games at second after Ozzie Albies’ injury.
Grissom had a .291/.353/.440 slash line that season with a wRC+ of 121. He finished as a 5.8 offensive fWAR player.
He was unable to beat out Orlando Arcia in Spring Training, but he lit up Triple-A. He got another cup of coffee in 2023 although his numbers were not as good as 2022.
He does need to work on his fielding as his defensive fWAR was -4 during his 2022 stint in the bigs.
Grissom is not exactly a power hitter either. He does get on base and his slugging percentage numbers have always been good.
With the Braves being reported as a serious contender for Dylan Cease…I would focus on a few key assets of interest from the White Sox perspective.
— Elijah Evans (@ElijahEv8) November 27, 2023
Vaughn Grissom could be the 2B of the future if given a shot. He needs a chance to play every day somewhere and could play SS too…
The Chicago White Sox also get the Braves top prospect, AJ Smith-Shawver. The Sox need to get a starting pitcher in this deal that is at or very close to pitching in the big leagues. Preferably one who can become an ace like Cease.
Smith-Shawyer meets that criteria.
Smith-Shawyer got five starts in the Majors as he skyrocketed through the Braves farm system.
He had a 4.26 ERA and 6.69 FIP in those appearances (he also had one relief outing). Smith-Shawyer was nearly unhittable in the minors as opponents combined to hit .169 off of him between Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A ball.
His fastball can top out at 98mph and he has a good slider. Plus, he just turned 21.
De Avila is Atlanta’s 14th-best prospect. He has four pitchers he can use to get outs. The southpaw made 25 starts at Double-A and posted a 3.28 ERA with an opponent’s batting average of .224.
Drake is 18 with immense potential coming from the left side of the plate.