The New York Yankees are in line to spend a lot this offseason to bolster a roster that fell into the playoffs a year removed from a World Series appearance.
While Cody Bellinger is an ideal re-sign candidate, the outcome of Trent Grisham's future in New York is also of importance. The Yankees extended him a qualifying offer, which drew an interesting reaction from teams around the MLB.
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, teams around baseball were "perplexed" as to why the Yankees would extend the qualifying offer to Grisham.
Why MLB teams were 'perplexed' by Yankees' Trent Grisham decision
"Although Trent Grisham had the best offensive year of his career," Bowden writes, "other teams were still perplexed that the Yankees gave him the Qualifying Offer (worth $22.025 million)."
The Yankees, by offering Grisham the Qualifying Offer, give him a chance to sign on for one year at $22.025 million. While Grisham could land a deal for more than that this winter, there's a chance he accepts the Qualifying Offer.
As Bowden went on to describe, "Grisham was below average defensively based on most metrics and the eyeball test..."
That was one of the reasons for the confusion from other MLB clubs about the Yankees' decision is as Grisham was not a good defender. His poor defense contributed to the confusion, but it wasn't the main reason.
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But the more important reason why teams didn't understand this decision from the Yankees is the potential for Grisham to accept and take New York out of the hunt for Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker.
If Grisham accepting the $22.025 million Qualifying Offer eliminates the Yankees from contention for Tucker or Bellinger, then that offer would've been a huge mistake to make.
While Grisham had an amazing power season (34 home runs), his lack of doubles and triples (nine and one, respectively), and poor defense make him a risky signing.
New York could still be active in either Tucker or Bellinger's markets if Grisham returns, but the risk the Yankees are taking is perplexing teams around Major League Baseball.
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