3 Atlanta Braves who won’t survive the trade deadline and why

Braves who could be traded: Vaughn Grissom

While the Atlanta Braves claim to still believe in Vaughn Grissom, his recent experience in the big leagues suggests shortstop isn’t the best fit for him. There’s a reason Anthopoulos signed Orlando Arcia to an extension, and there’s a reason Grissom is still in the minor leagues refining his game.

Grissom worked all offseason with Ron Washington to better his defensive skillset. It didn’t work.

"“I feel real good about Griss,” Washington said, via the Athletic. “All it is, is gaining experience. He was trying to learn how to play shortstop in the big leagues. He wasn’t learning how to play shortstop in the minor leagues. And learning how to play shortstop in the big leagues is night and day from playing shortstop in the minor leagues. There’s so much that goes on out there when you’re in the middle of that field that you have to be involved in. So he had a lot on his plate. But he’s gained a lot, too. You may not see it right now, but he’s gained a lot from spring training to now. And now he’s gonna get a chance to apply it.”"

Washington views Grissom and Shewmake as the future, but that doesn’t mean the Braves front office feels the same way. When asked about the possibility of flipping Grissom for some pitching, team insider Justin Toscano made it sound as though all options are on the table.

“A lot of it depends on what you (Braves management) think internally of him,” Toscano wrote. “Do they have the same confidence in him that he can be a long term shortstop?”

Pitching wins in October, and if the Braves still doubt Grissom’s ability to transition to shortstop or be an above-average defensive player, then perhaps they’d be better off selling high.