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The Yankees are at a crossroads this offseason as they try to sign Cody Bellinger while figuring out what to do with Trent Grisham. After impressing in 2025, the 29-year-old Bellinger has become the organization’s top priority. Then, Grisham’s career resurgence has put management in an unusual bind. This roster decision will have a big impact on the team’s strategy for center field and how they will compete in 2026. The Yankees must confront a pressing timeline that will shape their roster construction. According to New York Post analyst Joel Sherman, the organization faces a critical five-day window to decide on a $22.05 million qualifying offer for Grisham. “The Yankees won’t know within those five days whether they’re keeping Cody Bellinger, and they need to figure out who plays center field for them in 2026,” Sherman explained, pointing out the structural bind that management is in. If Grisham takes the qualifying offer, he stays as their center fielder. If he doesn’t, the Yankees get a draft pick as compensation. But Bellinger’s performance in 2025 was better, with a .272 average and 4.9 fWAR, positioning him as the clear priority. Meanwhile, Grisham’s qualifying offer becomes a secondary holding pattern rather than a long-term solution. Sherman’s assessment of Grisham presents a cautionary perspective on the qualifying offer decision. “I would not get into a multi-year business with him—he’d have to show me a lot more than one season to justify that.” Sherman made it clear that Grisham’s successful 2025 campaign does not require a long-term commitment. The hesitation roots back to Grisham’s inconsistency in the past. He batted under .200 for three years in a row from 2022 to 2024 before breaking through last year. His postseason collapse makes these worries even worse. In seven playoff games, Grisham only hit .160 with no home runs and no runs batted in, showing that his offensive improvement may not carry over to higher-stakes situations. Sherman instead suggested the qualifying offer as a way to lower risk while giving the Yankees more options in center field. Yet, that offer puts Grisham in the same tough spot. He can either take the guaranteed money or take a chance on the open market, where draft pick compensation makes it harder for him to sell himself. Grisham had his best year ever, with a 3.2 WAR and 34 home runs, but his one-year breakthrough doesn’t make up for the deeper issues that led the Yankees to switch to Bellinger. His defensive stats got worse last season, taking away the value that once made him a Gold Glove-caliber player. His lack of home runs and RBIs in the playoffs showed that he couldn’t handle the pressure. Grisham also hit only 13 of his 34 home runs at Yankee Stadium, which makes people wonder how well he would fit in with the team at home. The Yankees are in a holding pattern while they try to get Bellinger, who has a .272 batting average, 29 home runs, and a steady 4.9 fWAR. Grisham’s inconsistent history can’t give them that stability and production. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Yankees race to retain Bellinger as Mets circle The actual battle of the offseason, though, is over Bellinger. The New York Yankees’ top priority will depend on where he goes as a free agent. The former MVP came out of his 2025 campaign with apparent power. Jim Bowden of The Athletic thinks that Bellinger is worth a lot of money on the open market. He could end up with the Mets across town as a replacement for Pete Alonso. Bowden emphasized Bellinger’s versatility as a market differentiator. “Bellinger’s ability to play above-average defense at all three outfield positions and first base increases his free-agent worth, although it looks like he’s found a home in left field.” Bowden noted the positional flexibility that elevates his value beyond pure hitting numbers. The analyst’s projection tells an interesting story about Bellinger’s desirability. “He has been a perfect fit for the Yankees, where playing half his games at Yankee Stadium with the short porch in right helped him hit 29 home runs while slashing .272/.334/.480 (he had a .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium and a .715 OPS at every other park). I think he’ll opt out of his contract and try to get the Yankees to give him a longer deal.” Bowden thinks Bellinger will get six years and $168 million, which shows how highly he is regarded among baseball’s top free agents. But Mark Feinsand of MLB.com says that the Mets are an actual threat to Bellinger’s services. New York’s crosstown rival is a strong alternative, threatening to take another top player from the Bronx, as they have holes in their roster and need players in the outfield.
