In Alex Anthopoulos we trust, right? Right?
Anthopoulos always has a vision for the Atlanta Braves offseason. When speaking to David O'Brien of The Athletic this weekend, AA essentially stated that Braves run a tight ship, meaning any rumors -- such as reported trades or contract offers for the likes of Aaron Nola -- may not be the reality.
However, one concept that caught the eyes of Braves fans was the team's long-term plan at left field. While Atlanta could very well still add someone at the corner outfield spot this offseason, Anthopoulos doesn't view it as a necessity, suggesting that Vaughn Grissom could play the position, with Forrest Wall providing depth.
If the season started today, Vaughn Grissom would "get a look" in left field, #Braves' Alex Anthopoulos said. Grissom will play LF in Puerto Rico this winter. In other words, unless Braves add another LF, he'll go to spring as the primary. Said Forrest Wall is another LF option.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 3, 2023
Will the Braves replace Eddie Rosario with Vaughn Grissom?
If this sounds familiar, that's because a Grissom position change was floated last year. Dansby Swanson signed with the Chicago Cubs, and Grissom trained with now-Angels manager Ron Washington in an attempt to move from second base to a full-time shortstop. In the end, that wasn't necessary, as Orlando Arcia proved to be the better option.
Atlanta has long tried to find a full-time spot for Grissom, whose bat alone makes him a viable option in the lineup. However, his defense is a liability anywhere but second base, which is where Ozzie Albies currently plays.
Assuming Grissom can make this transition -- which is a rather large assumption -- then the Braves could save some money and spend it on a starting pitcher. However, this strikes me as a smokescreen more than anything else.
Eddie Rosario supplied some power against right-handed pitchers, but also struggled defensively at times. He was a liability against lefties, and ultimately Anthopoulos did not believe he was worth the price of his $9 million team option.
At the very least I would expect the Braves to bring in a veteran outfielder to compete with Grissom in spring training. Wall is an afterthought at this point.