New York Yankees' Trent Grisham Named Stunning Trade Candidate

Perhaps the most polarizing decision the New York Yankees made over the winter was tendering a $22 million qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, which he gladly accepted.

But is it even really polarizing when just about everyone was against it?

Fans railed against the Yankees for making such a move, worrying that it would impact their chances of re-signing Cody Bellinger and also fully understanding that it ruined any possibility of a Kyle Tucker pursuit (not that one ever really existed anyway).

It was also a bit puzzling given that New York had young outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones waiting to take on full-time big-league roles.

Nevertheless, the Yankees brought Grisham back into the fold, and while the vitriol quelled once the the team was also able to bring back Bellinger, the early returns for Grisham have not been great in 2026.

The 29-year-old is slashing .175/.311/.365 this season, and while he does have six home runs and 26 RBI, his inability to make consistent contact has been frustrating.

And while everyone wants to point toward Grisham's underlying metrics as evidence that he will eventually break out, it's important to remember that he is a lifetime .215 hitter whose 2025 campaign may have been a bit of an outlier.

So it should come as no surprise that Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller named Grisham as the one player New York desperately needs to break out as soon as possible, but he also offered a jarring little nugget in his synopsis: that Grisham could be trade bait.

"And now that the Yankees have called up Spencer Jones, it's just about 'now or never' for Grisham—who could be an intriguing trade candidate if he turns things around and Jones fares well in what should be regular playing time until Giancarlo Stanton returns from the IL," Miller wrote.

While the idea of Grisham being on the trade block makes sense in theory, I'm not sure the Yanks would go that route just yet.

Jones has gone just 1-for-12 over 15 plate appearances since being called up from the minors, and Dominguez was slashing just .200/.250/.367 across 32 trips to the dish while playing his usual subpar defense before hitting the injured list.

Stanton should be back relatively soon, but you just don't know if the 36-year-old slugger will be able to remain in the lineup given his injury history.

Unless Jones busts out, the chances of New York actually moving Grisham are slim, especially considering that he seems to be very well-liked in the clubhouse.

I do, however, think that 2026 will be Grisham's final year with the team, as the former first-round pick is slated to hit free agency next winter.

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