You might be surprised at which New York Yankees player is under the most pressure heading into the MLB season.
There are always heavy expectations when it comes to the New York Yankees, so pressure comes with the territory in the Bronx.
However, some players are carrying a larger burden than others, and there is one Yankee who is actually under more pressure than anyone else heading into 2026.
No, it's not Anthony Volpe. It isn't Austin Wells, either.
It's Trent Grisham.
Grisham was initially an add-on in the trade that brought Juan Soto to the Yankees back in December 2023. He was viewed as a solid fourth outfielder who could server as a late-inning defensive replacement.
During his debut campaign in New York, Grisham played sparingly, slashing .190/.290/.385 with nine home runs and 31 RBI over 209 plate appearances.
Grisham had batted under .200 three years in a row at that point, so not a whole lot was expected from him going into 2025.
But that was when the former first-round pick finally broke out, smashing 34 homers while logging an .811 OPS across 581 trips to the dish.
Grisham had a career year just in time for free agency, but instead of finding a new home, he accepted the Yankees' qualifying offer, which keeps him under wraps through 2026 on a $22 million salary.
New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.Can the 28-year-old replicate his 2025 performance?
With another free agency looming for Grisham after 2026, he will have to post similar numbers to get a lucrative contract next winter. He'll also have to worry about fending off Spencer Jones in center field.
Jones has become a darling in the Bronx thus far in Spring Training, having already bashed three long balls while displaying improved plate discipline. He is also a tremendous defensive player and possesses excellent speed on the basepaths.
The top outfield prospect turns 25 this May, so the clock is ticking for him to make his big-league debut. And Grisham knows it.
Grisham surely understands that if he falters over the first couple of months, Jones — who seems almost guaranteed to start the regular season Triple-A — will be waiting to take his job. And at that point, Grisham's free-agent value would plummet.
The Burleson, Tx. native owns a lifetime .218/.321/.400 slash line, so many are waiting for him to come crashing down to earth.
If that ends up happening during the first half of 2026, Grisham can probably kiss his starting job goodbye, and he will also be in for a rude awakening once he hits the open market next offseason.
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