As a substitute of chasing a multi-year deal, Trent Grisham is returning to the Bronx for an additional season.
It can additionally preserve the 29-year-old in a metropolis that he’s loved during the last two seasons.
“I like this place a lot,” Grisham stated in August. “I like the guys we have in the clubhouse. I like New York. There’s a lot of things I like about it, so we’ll see.”
Grisham might have looked for extra safety after having fun with a profession yr in 2025, because the left-handed hitter blasted 34 house runs to go together with an .811 OPS and 129 wRC+. Nevertheless, his offensive output was unprecedented, and his once- Gold Glove protection took successful, doubtlessly fending off suitors.
Whereas metrics like barrel share, exit velocity and xwOBA counsel Grisham’s breakout wasn’t a one-off – he additionally attributed his success to a greater psychological strategy – he posted a .191 common with a .651 OPS and an 87 wRC+ from 2022-2024. And whereas Grisham performed via a hamstring damage for a bit in 2025, he had -2 Outs Above Common, -11 Defensive Runs Saved and a -3 Fielding Run Worth, all profession worsts, with a dash pace that ranked within the thirty second percentile.
As a result of Grisham was given the qualifying provide, he additionally had draft decide compensation hooked up to his free company. A group paying the aggressive steadiness tax would have misplaced its second- and fifth-highest picks, in addition to $1 million from its worldwide bonus pool for the upcoming signing interval, for inking Grisham. A revenue-sharing group would have forfeited its third-highest decide.
Usually talking, qualifying provides and the accompanying draft decide compensation can depress a free agent’s market. Grisham can strive his hand at free company once more subsequent yr with out the detriment of the qualifying provide.
For now, Grisham is predicted to stay the Yankees’ middle fielder regardless of a down defensive season. Grisham might be traded, although he must give his consent earlier than June 15 after accepting the qualifying provide.
The Yankees are additionally anticipated to proceed their pursuit of re-signing Cody Bellinger.
Simply final week, Brian Cashman stated the Yankees would stay engaged with Bellinger no matter Grisham’s qualifying provide determination.
“We’d be happy if [Grisham] accepted [the qualifying offer] and came back,” Cashman stated. “If we get a call at some point that he accepts, our conversations with Scott Boras on Bellinger will continue, and we’ll see where that takes us. And if [Grisham] rejects, we’ll be talking to both Grisham and Bellinger regardless, and then we’ll continue keeping an eye on the guys we have from within.”’
With Grisham and Ryan Yarbrough again, the Yankees’ projected aggressive steadiness tax payroll for 2026 is about $282.53 million. The second-highest threshold for aggressive steadiness tax penalties is $284 million in 2026, whereas the best threshold is $304 million.
With Bellinger needed again and the Yankees additionally searching for pitching assist and a platoon bench bat, the group can have a tricky time staying below a $300 million payroll, an quantity that proprietor Hal Steinbrenner has known as “unsustainable” regardless of exceeding it every of the final two seasons.
Cashman stated that the Yankees have a “fluid” payroll and that he hasn’t been given an “ultimate” quantity to work with.
“Out of all the things that we have here with the organization, payroll usually is not an issue that we’ve had to deal with much of,” he added.
If the Yankees are additionally in a position to retain Bellinger, they might commerce considered one of their younger outfielders – Jasson Domínguez or top-100 prospect Spencer Jones – for assist elsewhere on the roster.
The group believes the defensively restricted Domínguez is best off in left, which is the place Bellinger would primarily play, whereas Jones nonetheless comes with considerations over his strikeout and call charges regardless of a monstrous 2025 marketing campaign break up between Double-A and Triple-A.
“If one of those guys comes back, it creates nice competition,” Cashman stated of Grisham and Bellinger. “If both come back, then maybe it creates trade flexibility.”
