New York — Trent Grisham has given a clearer view of his future plans as his contract year with the New York Yankees nears its end. The outfielder admitted he has thought about what happens after this season, though he keeps his focus on the team’s performance.
“I’m doing everything I can to just really stay present with the team and continue the good year,” Grisham told the New York Daily News. “I would be lying if I said it hasn’t crossed my mind, but every time it does, I really try to get back into the present.”
Trent Grisham is playing on a one-year, $5 million contract that expires once the 2025 campaign ends, making him a free agent this winter. Even with that uncertainty, the 28-year-old signaled that he feels at home in New York.
“I like this place a lot. 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,” he said.
The Yankees acquired Grisham in December 2023 as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Juan Soto from San Diego. Initially considered a secondary piece, he has grown into a bigger role. Manager Aaron Boone moved Aaron Judge back to right field to give Grisham regular duty in center. Boone, who once criticized parts of his play, has since highlighted Grisham’s improvement and steady production.
Breakout season raises Grisham’s value
Trent Grisham is putting together the best season of his career, boosting his value with free agency fast approaching. As of August 25, he is batting .247 with 25 home runs, 51 RBIs, and an .820 OPS — all career highs. His two-homer performance on August 24 helped the Yankees beat Boston and avoid a four-game sweep, underscoring his importance to the lineup.
The two-time Gold Glove winner remains strong defensively while adding more at the plate. He ranks near the top of the Yankees’ roster in runs scored, hits, and walks, and is second in bases on balls. His ability to work counts, reach base, and deliver power has been crucial for a team hit by injuries.
It marks a sharp turnaround for a player who hit just .190 with nine home runs in 76 games last season and was rarely used after arriving in New York. The Yankees chose to tender him a $5 million arbitration deal last winter instead of cutting ties. That decision has paid off.
“He’s made himself a lot of money with the way he’s performed this season in pinstripes,” NJ.com’s Max Goodman wrote earlier this summer. Grisham’s rise in power numbers and slugging has come at the right time, putting him in line for a significant payday as he enters his prime years.
Yankees face competition for Grisham in free agency
The Yankees will soon face a decision on whether to commit to Grisham beyond this season. Rival clubs are expected to pursue him, as power-hitting, left-handed center fielders with defensive credentials are in high demand.
New York could risk losing both Grisham and Cody Bellinger this offseason. Bellinger is widely expected to decline his $25 million player option for 2026 and test the market. That scenario could leave the Yankees with two outfield vacancies to address.
Grisham is in line for a multi-year deal well above his current salary. The Yankees could extend him a qualifying offer, projected at about $21 million for 2026. That would guarantee draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. Whether the club views him as worth that amount remains uncertain.
If the Yankees move on, choices in the free-agent pool are limited. Cedric Mullins of Baltimore stands out as the only other notable center fielder set to hit the market. On the trade front, Chicago’s Luis Robert Jr. could become a target if the White Sox make him available. Internally, top prospect Spencer Jones may push for a role, but he is still untested at the big-league level.
For his part, Grisham has shown openness to staying. “I do love this team. I love what we’ve got going on right now. I will say that,” he said. Both he and Bellinger confirmed no extension talks have started yet, which is typical before the offseason.
Grisham’s breakthrough campaign has made him one of the Yankees’ most vital players in 2025. Whether he remains in pinstripes beyond this year is set to be one of the defining questions of the winter.
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