The Yankees have roster choices to make Tuesday, however the day’s most vital resolution concerning their 2026 season is out of their arms.
Will Trent Grisham settle for $22.025 million for one 12 months or decline and search a longer-term provide? The trail chosen will assist dictate a lot of the remainder of the Yankees’ offseason.
If Grisham — a profession .213, .697-OPS hitter earlier than his breakout final season — accepts the qualifying provide, the Yankees would have a big chunk of cash allotted to a middle fielder with a number of different outfielders affected.
Would Grisham’s presence render Cody Bellinger a luxurious, the Yankees permitting the far costlier outfielder/first baseman to go elsewhere? Would the Yankees carry again each and envision Bellinger enjoying the identical utility function he assumed final season — thus blocking spots for Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, who can be minimized or grow to be commerce bait? If Bellinger is retained and the Yankees’ payroll spirals out of Hal Steinbrenner’s consolation zone, would Grisham himself grow to be a commerce piece?
If Grisham — who can be a rarity in the marketplace as a 29-year-old able to enjoying middle area and coming off a robust, 34-homer season — rejects the qualifying provide, he would grow to be a free agent and sure have the ability to land a multiyear contract, even whereas hampered by the draft-pick compensation that the Yankees would internet. If that’s the case, the Yankees can be additional incentivized to reel in Bellinger (who can play middle), left area can be cleared for Domínguez and Jones, who has come via the system as primarily a middle fielder, would have a greater likelihood of cracking the roster.
Lots hinges on the choice of Grisham, who both is coming off a revelatory season or a fluke season. There are few center-field choices obtainable in free company, which factored into the Yankees’ resolution to increase the qualifying provide and can be an element if Grisham declines that supply.
“He had a hell of a 12 months for us,” GM Brian Cashman stated final week, “… and we’d be completely satisfied if he accepted and got here again.”
On what will likely be a busy day for roster machinations, the Yankees additionally should determine which prospects they wish to shield from the Rule 5 draft.
Jones, contemporary off a 35-homer marketing campaign within the minors, is a lock to be added to the 40-man roster, as is righty starter Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. Different candidates embody prime pitching prospect Chase Hampton — an advanced case as a result of he’s rehabbing from Tommy John surgical procedure — together with starters Brendan Beck, Bailey Dees, Allen Facundo, Henry Lalane, Zach Messinger and Brock Selvidge, relievers Harrison Cohen and Eric Reyzelman and infielder T.J. Rumfield.
If left off the roster, gamers may be chosen by different groups on the Dec. 10 draft. These gamers would grow to be totally a part of their new organizations in the event that they survive all the 2026 season on the energetic main league roster.
