NEW YORK — Trent Grisham’s final swing of 2026 missed. His strikeout against the Tampa Bay Rays ended a 4-3 loss in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 7, and with it a three-game sweep.
It also capped a familiar October. Grisham went 4-for-29 in the 2025 postseason and was then paid $22.025 million to come back. This October, he went 2-for-15.
The New York Yankees have not won a World Series since 2009. In the 17 seasons since, they have lost in the ALDS five times, the ALCS five times, the wild-card round twice and the World Series once, and missed the playoffs four times.
General manager Brian Cashman is expected to get a new multiyear deal soon. Aaron Boone is signed through 2027. The pressure for change is landing on the roster instead.
Ten Yankees become free agents when the World Series ends. The club already has more than $205 million committed to seven players for 2027, so each decision carries a price.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., second baseman
Performance: Hit .231 with 19 homers, 41 steals and a 98 wRC+ in 137 games. He was worth 3.5 fWAR, helped by 13 Outs Above Average. He went 0-for-8 in the ALDS and was benched for Game 3.
Cost so far: $10.2 million.
Market valuation for 2027: The Yankees are not expected to make him the $23.15 million qualifying offer. Estimate: a short, high-AAV deal of about $18 million to $22 million a year.
Chisholm was booed by Yankees fans as a pinch hitter in the final game. Afterward, he made his preference plain.
“This is where I want to be,” Chisholm said.
Verdict: Go. Likely destination: Toronto, Detroit or San Diego.
Trent Grisham, center fielder
Performance: Hit .211 with 18 homers, a .703 OPS and 0.7 fWAR in 121 games, down from 34 homers and 3.1 fWAR in 2025. He ranked last among center fielders in Outs Above Average.
Cost so far: $22.025 million after he accepted the qualifying offer.
Market valuation for 2027: He cannot receive another qualifying offer. Estimate: one year, $8 million to $12 million, as a corner outfielder.
Asked about free agency, Grisham focused on the people around him rather than the contract.
“All I can say on it is I love the people here,” Grisham said.
Verdict: Go. Likely destination: A club that needs a left-handed corner bat. Spencer Jones and Jasson Domínguez wait behind him in the Yankees outfield.
David Bednar, right-handed reliever
Performance: 35 saves in 39 chances, a 2.47 ERA and 1.9 fWAR over 69 1/3 innings. He did not allow a run in three postseason innings.
Cost so far: $9 million.
Market valuation for 2027: The Yankees are expected to make him the $23.15 million qualifying offer. Bleacher Report projects he will chase about four years and $66 million.
Verdict: Stay, but not guaranteed. Likely destination: Yankees or a contender needing a closer.
Paul Blackburn, right-handed reliever
Performance: A 1.59 ERA in 85 innings over 62 games. His 3.75 FIP and 0.7 fWAR suggest some luck.
Cost so far: $2 million.
Market valuation for 2027: Estimate: two years at $5 million to $8 million a year.
Verdict: Stay. Likely destination: Yankees, unless his price climbs.
Paul Goldschmidt, first baseman
Performance: Hit .252 with 18 homers, a 111 wRC+ and 1.6 fWAR. He posted a .967 OPS against left-handers.
Cost so far: $4 million.
Market valuation for 2027: Estimate: one year, $3 million to $5 million, as a platoon bat.
At 39, the 2022 MVP has never won a World Series. He said he is not ready to stop.
“I’d like to continue playing so we’ll see if that opportunity happens,” Goldschmidt said.
Verdict: Coin flip. Likely destination: Yankees as Luis García Jr.’s platoon partner, or elsewhere.
Amed Rosario, utility infielder
Performance: A .238 average, a .606 OPS against lefties and minus-0.2 fWAR.
Cost so far: $2.5 million. Market valuation: Estimate: a minor league deal or about $1.5 million.
Verdict: Go. Likely destination: A bench role elsewhere. The Yankees have José Caballero and Anthony Volpe.
Ryan Yarbrough, left-handed pitcher
Performance: A 3.69 ERA over 63 1/3 innings with 20 starts and 0.7 fWAR. He did not pitch in the postseason.
Cost so far: $2.5 million. Market valuation: Estimate: one year, about $2.5 million.
Verdict: Go. Likely destination: A club needing a swingman.
Tim Hill, left-handed reliever
Performance: A 4.60 ERA, 5.93 FIP and minus-1.1 fWAR in 67 games. Right-handers hit him for a .909 OPS.
Cost so far: $3 million after the Yankees exercised his club option. Market valuation: Estimate: a minor league deal.
Verdict: Go. Likely destination: A spring training invite.
John Schreiber, right-handed reliever
Performance: A 1.64 ERA in 11 innings after the Yankees picked him up from Kansas City in late August.
Cost so far: Prorated salary only. Market valuation: Estimate: one year, about $1.5 million.
Verdict: Go. Likely destination: A middle-relief role elsewhere.
Michael Fulmer, right-handed reliever
Performance: A 4.50 ERA in 10 innings. He was left off the postseason roster.
Cost so far: Prorated salary only. Market valuation: Estimate: a minor league deal.
Verdict: Go. Likely destination: A non-roster invite.
What each win cost the Yankees
Dividing salary by fWAR shows where the money went. Goldschmidt cost about $2.5 million per win. Chisholm and Blackburn cost about $2.9 million each.
Grisham cost about $31.5 million per win, more than 10 times Chisholm’s rate. Hill and Rosario produced negative value.
Those numbers frame the Yankees‘ winter. The qualifying offer deadline lands five days after the World Series. Bednar would then decide whether to take the Yankees’ offer or test the market.
Yankees free agents at a glance
| Player (pos., age) | 2026 key stats | fWAR | 2026 salary | Cost per fWAR | 2027 market value | Verdict | Likely destination |
| Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B, 28) | .231 AVG, 19 HR, 41 SB, 98 wRC+ | 3.5 | $10.2M | $2.9M | No QO expected; est. $18M-$22M/yr, short term | Go | Blue Jays, Tigers or Padres |
| Trent Grisham (CF, 29) | .211 AVG, 18 HR, .703 OPS | 0.7 | $22.025M | $31.5M | Est. 1 yr, $8M-$12M (corner OF) | Go | Team needing LH corner bat |
| David Bednar (RHP, 32) | 2.47 ERA, 35 SV, 69 1/3 IP | 1.9 | $9M | $4.7M | $23.15M QO expected; seeking ~4 yr/$66M | Likely stay | Yankees or a contender |
| Paul Blackburn (RHP, 32) | 1.59 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 85 IP | 0.7 | $2M | $2.9M | Est. 2 yr, $5M-$8M/yr | Stay | Yankees |
| Paul Goldschmidt (1B, 39) | .252 AVG, 18 HR, .967 OPS vs. LHP | 1.6 | $4M | $2.5M | Est. 1 yr, $3M-$5M | Coin flip | Yankees platoon or elsewhere |
| Amed Rosario (UTIL, 30) | .238 AVG, .606 OPS vs. LHP | -0.2 | $2.5M | Negative | Est. minor league deal or ~$1.5M | Go | Bench role elsewhere |
| Ryan Yarbrough (LHP, 34) | 3.69 ERA, 63 1/3 IP, 20 GS | 0.7 | $2.5M | $3.6M | Est. 1 yr, ~$2.5M | Go | Swingman role elsewhere |
| Tim Hill (LHP, 36) | 4.60 ERA, 5.93 FIP, 67 G | -1.1 | $3M | Negative | Est. minor league deal | Go | Spring training invite |
| John Schreiber (RHP, 32) | 1.64 ERA in 11 IP with NYY | n/a | Prorated | n/a | Est. 1 yr, ~$1.5M | Go | Middle relief elsewhere |
| Michael Fulmer (RHP, 33) | 4.50 ERA in 10 IP with NYY | n/a | Prorated | n/a | Est. minor league deal | Go | Non-roster invite |
fWAR per FanGraphs. Cost per fWAR is 2026 salary divided by fWAR. est. marks an editorial estimate.
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