The first domino in the Yankee offseason has fallen. Trent Grisham, he of the shocking 34-home run season, has been extended the $22.025 million qualifying offer from the club per Jeff Passan, and will
now have to decide between taking that one-year contract or testing himself in free agency. Should he chose the latter, the Yankees will receive a compensatory 2026 draft pick if Grisham signs with another team.
It’s a little bit of a surprise move, given that Grisham was a borderline non-tender candidate at this point last year and despite a strong overall batting line, showed some cracks under the hood. 34 home runs is 34 home runs, but the former Gold Glove-winning center fielding went from +7 Fielding Run Value in 2023, +3 in 2024, down to -3 this past season. On top of that, the Contract Year Boost is something of a real thing, and it’s hard to imagine Grisham being better next year than he was this year — certainly at four times the cost.
Still, at least the potential risk is weighed against this being the only QO the Yankees have sent out. Fellow outfielder Cody Bellinger, who the Yankees will have to make a much more expensive decision on, was ineligible for the qualifying offer due to receiving one a couple seasons ago from the Cubs. Belli now heads into free agency without that weight around his neck, and Grisham’s open market will be a little bit tighter for it.
