NEW YORK — The New York Yankees face a tricky offseason decision involving outfielder Trent Grisham. Once seen as a salary dump addition, Grisham turned into one of the Yankees’ biggest surprises in 2025. But a bold trade idea from a well-known insider has cast doubt on whether his breakout season will keep him in pinstripes.
Grisham delivered the best numbers of his career at age 28. He smashed 34 home runs, posted an .811 OPS, and produced 3.5 wins above replacement. The left-handed hitter served as the Yankees’ primary leadoff man against right-handers — an impressive rise for someone acquired as a secondary piece in the Juan Soto trade with San Diego in December 2023.
His emergence, though, now creates a new challenge for general manager Brian Cashman. The Yankees must decide whether to extend a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to the center fielder. Under MLB rules, teams have five days after the World Series ends to make that call.
Yankees insider floats unexpected trade scenario
New York Post insider Joel Sherman proposed an unconventional path on Tuesday. He suggested the Yankees should extend the qualifying offer to Grisham even if they intend to re-sign former MVP Cody Bellinger.
“If Grisham accepts the qualifying offer and the Yankees ultimately sign Bellinger, I do not think it is impossible for the Yanks to trade Grisham,” Sherman wrote. “They would have to take a salary back or eat some money, but center field and offense are in short supply, so as long as it is not the full $22.05 million, then I could see the Yanks being able to move Grisham.”
Sherman’s proposal depends on Grisham accepting the one-year deal. That outcome would give the Yankees some roster and financial flexibility if they sign Bellinger later in free agency. Sherman also floated a possible trade concept with the crosstown rival Mets — sending Grisham to Queens for reliever Clay Holmes. Holmes’ salary would come in below Grisham’s qualifying offer figure but includes an opt-out clause after 2026.
Balancing multiple free agent priorities
This winter, the Yankees face two major outfield decisions. While Grisham broke out with 34 homers, the organization’s main focus remains on keeping Bellinger, who is expected to decline his $25 million player option for 2026.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked Grisham as the No. 24 free agent available this offseason and listed the Yankees, Pirates, Rockies, Twins, White Sox, and Angels as potential fits. Bowden projected Bellinger could command a six-year, $168 million deal.
Bob Klapisch of NJ.com cautioned against overvaluing Grisham’s 2025 surge.
“Despite a breakout power performance at the plate (34 home runs) and glorious defense in center field, it’s worth remembering that Trent Grisham batted just .235 this season and was only 2-for-17 in the ALDS,” Klapisch wrote. “He’s a career .218 hitter.”
That observation highlights the risk factor. Grisham combined for just 2.2 WAR in 2023 and 2024 before his breakout. For the Yankees, the question is whether 2025 represents true growth or an anomaly.
Market complications for breakout star
Grisham’s market value could be limited by the qualifying offer system. Any team signing him would lose at least its second-highest draft pick. For those above the luxury tax threshold, penalties include the fifth-highest pick and a portion of international bonus pool money.
Historically, teams hesitate to surrender draft capital for players outside the elite tier. Smaller market franchises, which value draft picks more, often avoid qualifying offer free agents altogether.
Grisham’s uneven production adds to the uncertainty. Before 2025, he hadn’t posted an offensive WAR above 2.0 since 2021, making long-term investment risky.
Former Yankees outfielder Cameron Maybin expressed his opinion on social media, supporting a short-term return for Grisham.
“Trent Grisham is having a career year, but let me guess the Yankees will let him walk after the season,” Maybin wrote. “Just bring him back on another one-year deal, why not? Not to mention he’s elite in center. Screw your defensive metrics, I watch ball.”
Potential suitors and contract projections
The free-agent center field market is thin. Only seven qualified players at the position posted higher WAR than Grisham in 2025, and none are projected to reach free agency before 2029.
Spotrac estimates Grisham’s annual value around $12 million, while NJ.com’s Randy Miller suggested a four-year deal worth at least $48 million. Some analysts point to Jurickson Profar’s three-year, $42 million contract with Atlanta as a close comparison. Both have streaky offensive histories. But Grisham offers better defense and plays a premium position.
Even with his breakout, Grisham’s ceiling likely remains below Andrew Benintendi’s five-year, $75 million contract with the White Sox ahead of 2023 season. Most projections put Grisham’s average annual value between $15 million and $18 million.
Trading Grisham requires willing partners
Sherman’s idea faces financial hurdles. Finding a team ready to absorb much of the $22.05 million qualifying offer is difficult. Only a handful of big-market teams have that kind of payroll room.
The Philadelphia Phillies could make sense as a trade match. They’ve lacked a true everyday center fielder for years and could take on part of the salary to fill that gap.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post praised Grisham’s 2025 performance and affordability.
“Trent Grisham, 33 homers for $5 million, is one of the better deals going,” Heyman wrote. “As a free agent, he’ll get an enormous raise, of course.”
Grisham earned just $5 million in 2025, making his production a steal. But committing more than four times that amount next season would mark a major jump in payroll commitment for the Yankees.
Yankees weigh gamble on sustainability
The Yankees must decide if Grisham’s 2025 season signals lasting improvement or a one-year surge. His defense stayed strong, though not quite at the Gold Glove level he reached in 2020 and 2022.
Grisham batted .235 with a .348 on-base percentage and .464 slugging percentage, producing an .811 OPS — second among qualified center fielders. His WAR ranked seventh among regulars at the position.
The power spike stood out most. He hit more homers in 2025 than in his previous three years combined. Surprisingly, 21 of his 34 homers came on the road, where he posted a .904 OPS compared to .702 at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees’ qualifying offer decision carries broader implications. They can issue only one per offseason. Extending it to Grisham would mean they cannot use it on other players, such as closer Devin Williams.
New York also has younger, cheaper options waiting. Prospects Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez are both part of the future outfield plan, though neither has fully broken through at the big-league level yet.
Sherman’s scenario offers flexibility. The Yankees could lock in Grisham under the qualifying offer while keeping the door open to trade him later. But such a move would depend on finding a trade partner and possibly covering part of his salary.
With the decision deadline approaching soon after the World Series, the Yankees must move quickly. Whether they follow Sherman’s bold idea or take a more traditional route will shape their 2026 roster and payroll.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
