The New York Yankees should make this obvious decision with Trent Grisham this season, but they probably won't.
The New York Yankees will almost certainly be getting Aaron Judge back this season, as the three-time AL MVP is working through his rehab and will probably return sometime in mid-to-late September.
Judge's return will create quite a glut in the outfield, as he will obviously move back to right field, which would then send Spencer Jones to the bench. A bench that also includes Heliot Ramos.
But should the Yankees actually be benching Jones? Or should they be sending Trent Grisham to the pine?
Grisham is slated to hit free agency this offseason, and he is likely a goner. He's definitely had his moments this year, but overall, he is batting .217 with a .726 OPS while also playing some pretty dreadful center field defense.
So why exactly should he be starting over Jones again?
Let me make something clear: the probability of New York benching Grisham in favor of Jones are slim to none ... but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be the right move.
New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.Jones has been terrific lately and is clearly getting more comfortable as a hitter. Is he still rough around the edges? Absolutely, but he also offers considerably more upside than Grisham, and in every facet of the game.
The 25-year-old is already arguably a more dangerous hitter, and he is unquestionably better in the field as well as on the basepaths. Jones is also a significant piece of the Yankees' future. Grisham is not.
I understand that New York is playing for the present; not the long term, but does Grisham really provide any sort of edge over Jones? And wouldn't be it beneficial to get Jones playoff experience right off the bat?
Grisham was a breakout player for the Yanks in 2025, smashing 34 home runs to go along with an .811 OPS. But it seems to have been a one-year wonder for the former first-round pick with a lifetime .218/.320/.401 slash line.
It would be very unfortunate to see Jones, who is quickly becoming a fan favorite, lose playing time down the stretch, especially at the expense of a pedestrian player who isn't even going to be on the roster in 2027.
The Yankees should transition Grisham into a reserve role to accommodate Jones, but what they should do and what they will actually do are two totally different things.
