The New York Yankees will have to pay big money to keep one of their top free agents.

While Cody Bellinger is the most noteworthy New York Yankees player slated to hit the free-agent market this offseason, perhaps the most interesting case is Trent Grisham.

Grisham is enjoying a breakout campaign this year, slashing .237/.345/.468 with 33 home runs and 72 RBI over 556 plate appearances. This offensive surge, coupled with the fact that Grisham is a two-time Gold Glover, has obviously caused his price to skyrocket.

But what will the Yankees have to pay to keep him?

Well, the price of the MLB qualifying offer has been revealed, and it will be $22 million, via The New York Post. Remember: the qualifying offer is a one-year deal that the Yanks can present to Grisham. If he accepts, the Yankees have him for $22 million for 2026. If he signs elsewhere, New York will land a compensatory draft pick.

So if the qualifying offer is $22 million, that certainly means Grisham will be looking to earn average annual value somewhere in that neighborhood — if not more — on a long-term contract in free agency. But is he worth it?

Well, history says no. He is a lifetime .218/.320/.400 hitter, and while his career-high barrel rate of 14.4 percent in 2025 indicates he may have turned a corner, do the Yankees really want to pay him big money to find out?

Not only that, but Grisham's defense, which was once elite, has fallen off considerably since he arrived in the Bronx. In fact, he lays claim to a minus-10 DRS this season. He's only 28 years old, but he has actually been losing steps in the outfield since his final year in San Diego back in 2023.

It seems rather unlikely that Grisham — who also only has nine doubles this season — is going to replicate his offensive success in 2026 and beyond, and with his defense also declining, New York would be wise not to take such a significant risk.

That's especially considering that the Yankees could very well re-sign Bellinger, and let's remember that they have Spencer Jones nearing a big-league debut.

Grisham has been an amazing story for New York this year, but unless Bellinger bolts via free agency (which is possible), the Yanks will probably avoid giving Grisham a lucrative long-term pact. And that would be the wise decision to make.