The New York Yankees made a surprising offer to Trent Grisham. After a breakout season that fizzled in the playoffs, the Yankees tendered a $22.025 million qualifying offe r to the outfielder.
That started a 15-day window for Grisham to accept or test free agency with draft-pick compensation attached.
Grisham earned $5 million with New York in 2025 after avoiding arbitration, so an acceptance would be a steep one-year raise and would hit the Yankees’ luxury-tax ledger at the full QO amount. The 2026 Competitive Balance Tax thresholds are set at $244M, with surcharges at $264M, $284M and $304M—so a $22.025 tab added to the payroll meaningfully tightens their upper-tier flexibility.
It’s a slightly surprising move with bigger targets on the Yankees radar.
It does preserve options for the Yankees.
If Grisham accepts, New York locks in a glove in center on a one-year bridge and no need to rush Spencer Jones, or they can move him in a blockbuster trade. If he declines and signs elsewhere, they recoup a pick. Either path keeps them positioned for bigger bats.
Committing this money would crowd the ledger and the roster in the outfield with Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker on the Yankees’ wishlist. If Grisham declines, the Yankees gain both a draft asset and clearer financial room to re-engage on Cody Bellinger or pivot to shorter-term bats.
Grisham must weigh a life-changing one-year payday against seeking multi-year security in a defense-driven free-agent market with a draft-pick penalty attached. Either way, the QO gives the Yankees leverage while they seek to improve their offense.