The New York Yankees’ outfield could look different in 2026 depending on how free agency goes.
Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham are out there for the taking right now. The Yankees tendered Grisham the qualifying offer and are still waiting to hear if he will accept it. If he does, then he will return to New York on a one-year deal worth just over $22 million. If he doesn’t and signs elsewhere, the Yankees would get draft compensation in return.
If he does leave, where could he go? Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly predicted that Grisham will in fact leave the organization and do so to sign with the Houston Astros.
“Team Prediction: Astros,” Kelly wrote. “Trent Grisham isn’t going to match the annual value of the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer that the Yankees have extended to him, but he had such a good offensive season in 2025 that it still probably makes sense for him to decline the QO and search for a long-term contract. Granted, having a QO attached to him will suppress his value to possible suitors a little. Grisham, though, is just a year removed from posting a .675 OPS over 76 games in his first season with the Yankees.
“He had never hit more than 17 home runs in a year until doubling that total in 2025. There’s a distinct possibility he will never have more bargaining power than he will this winter. What’s perplexing when trying to evaluate him is that he had the worst defensive season of his career in 2025, posting minus-11 defensive runs saved and minus-two outs above average in center field. Mind you, this is someone who had 26 DRS and 33 OAA in his career prior to this season, with two Gold Glove Awards on his resume.”
Grisham had the best offensive season of his career in 2025 with 34 homers and 74 RBIs. That would be a lot of production to replace, but fortunately, the Yankees have internal options, like No. 4 prospect Spencer Jones.
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