Is The Trent Grisham Qualifying Offer As Crazy As It Looks?

I did not have the “Yankees extend Trent Grisham a qualifying offer” on my 2025 bingo card this season. This idea was basically crazy and unthinkable coming into this season. Then Grisham had a career season and here we are, talking about a $22 million qualifying offer the Yankees just made. Baseball is a crazy game.

Grisham doesn’t have to decide if he wants to take the Yankees offer until November 18th. So we get to sit and think about all of the “what ifs” and ponder the pros and cons, but Michael Kay doesn’t need time. He already knows that he hates the idea, he spoke about it on his show HERE. 
“If you are grossly overpaying for a player, that means that’s money you can’t spend somewhere else. It’s not an unlimited budget,” Kay said. “So there is such a thing as a bad one-year contract if it inhibits you from doing other things that said year.”

We all know Hal Steinbrenner has been vocal about how the increasing budget isn’t sustainable over the past few years but, in the grand scheme of things it’s $22 million. It is not an amount that would cripple the Yankees. It could actually give some more insurance. I still think the Yankees are going to be more cautious with Aaron Judge. They didn’t want him testing his arm too much in the outfield in the playoffs. The Yankees say he does not need surgery over the winter but again it is the Yankees and their medical staff is terrible. If Grisham accepts, he is insurance in the outfield in case Kyle Tucker doesn’t sign here and Cody Bellinger decides to take another offer. It also gives the Yankees time to decide how they want to approach Jasson Dominguez and the million dollar question of what are the Yankees going to do with Spencer Jones? Are they going to commit to giving him a chance at some point this season or trade him? 

The Yankees say Bellinger is a top priority for them, and I think it is. I still think $22 million won’t change how they approach their desire to get Bellinger back in the Bronx. He still fits in our outfield, and long term, he is great insurance at first base which we need. I’ve seen several media outlets talk about both sides. Several say if Grisham comes back, Bellinger is gone and I don’t agree. Tucker is going to cost the Yankees more. If Grisham impacts the Yankees willingness to spend on anyone, it’s more likely to be Tucker.

This could also be pure strategy on the Yankees part. Grisham just had a career year. As much as the Yankees still struggled with fundamentals this season, they still hit milestones under Yankees hitting coach James Rowson including a Silver Slugger team award. These are accomplishments that mid-tier teams that are trying to upgrade their teams look for. He could be an attractive piece to several teams and the idea of giving Grisham a three plus year deal may not be attractive to them now that teams would have to surrender a draft pick to sign him.

I think the Yankees are playing strategy here. They are trying to capitalize on Grisham’s career year. Do I think he takes the offer? Probably not. Historically, players prefer for a multi-year deal instead of a one year deal that could have serious implications if they have a bad year. There’s also a shutdown looing with the new CBA expiring at the end of next season, so the security of a multi-year deal would be appealing.

If Grisham walks away, I won’t freak out. At least we will get compensation pick in the 2026 draft. I’m not gonna stress about this move, it’s too early in the offseason to start freaking out just yet.

–Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor