The New York Yankees offseason was more about retaining key players than it was acquiring new talent. Not everyone is sold about one of the team’s major moves ahead of the season.
New York opted to re-sign Trent Grisham to a one-year, $22 million contract after posting a career-high 34 home runs. This is a sizable raise for Grisham, putting pressure on the slugger to perform.
Could regression be on the horizon in 2026? New York Post’s Greg Joyce labeled Grisham as the Yankees player “most likely to disappoint” this season.
“Nobody expected much out of Trent Grisham entering last season, only for the center fielder to grab an everyday role and crush 34 home runs, doubling his previous career high,” Joyce posted in a March 23, 2026, story titled, “Yankees 2026 season preview: Projected lineup, rotation, MLB prediction as they hope boring will be better.”
“That resulted in the Yankees making him the $22.025 million qualifying offer and Grisham accepting, turning up the heat on him to produce at a similar clip in 2026. The Yankees believe his breakout season was not a fluke, but if he does not match that .811 OPS, there will be renewed questions about whether the Yankees made a mistake with the qualifying offer.”
Yankees GM Brian Cashman on Trent Grisham: ‘$22 Million Looks Like a Bargain’
Grisham hit just .235 during his 143 appearances in 2025 but is better known for his power with 34 home runs and 74 RBI. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman labeled re-signing Grisham as a “bargain” given how MLB free agency played out.
“At this point, that $22 million looks like a bargain, the way the free-agent market got away from everybody,” Cashman noted on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio, per MLB.com. “We’re really happy that he chose to stay with us. Hopefully, he can replicate what he did last year.”
Trent Grisham on Returning to the Yankees: ‘I’m Very Excited to Quote, Unquote Run It Back’
Much has been made about Grisham’s bat, but, in theory, the veteran also brings defense to the team. Grisham is a 2-time Gold Glove winner but was not as consistent in the field in 2025.
“I want to win,” Grisham told NJ.com’s Randy Miller during a February 18, interview. “That’s really what the driving factor was. I’m a firm believer of if you keep playing this game long enough, the money takes care of itself. That’s never the biggest factor for me.
“… I think that we’re very talented. That’s how I look at it. I’m very excited to quote, unquote run it back. These guys are awesome. Coming here this spring, I feel like that camaraderie picked up where we left off.”
If Grisham’s bat cools down a bit, but his fielding is back to his normal level, re-signing the veteran could prove to be a prudent move. The Yankees open the season against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, March 25, as the clubs begin Netflix’s new MLB coverage.
New York is second in the MLB odds to win the World Series at +1000, per FanDuel. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a heavy favorite at +200.
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