Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham has accepted the Bombers’ $22 million qualifying offer, meaning he will be with the Yankees for at least one more season.
The move created a ripple effect for both the Yankees and the fantasy baseball community. The new contract doesn’t only force us to evaluate Grisham, but also the players who stand to lose value because of the decision.
While it’s fair to say “good for you, Grisham,” the reality is that this hurts his fantasy value. The advanced metrics show that Grisham’s season was no fluke. He hit 34 home runs and posted a 125 OPS+, but the reason he now loses fantasy appeal is the strong chance that he splits playing time in a crowded Yankees outfield.
The Yankees have been linked to Cody Bellinger and have also shown interest in making a splash for Kyle Tucker. Either of those additions would take an outfield spot alongside MVP Aaron Judge. The Yankees also have top prospect Spencer Jones pushing for a big-league call-up, and many expected Jasson Domínguez to finally be given a starting role.
Fans hoped the Yankees would pursue Steven Kwan, but the Grisham decision likely eliminates that possibility. There is also no room at designated hitter with Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice taking those opportunities.
For fantasy players, Grisham’s value is slightly downgraded, though many were skeptical he would fully repeat last season anyway. He now profiles as a reasonable late-round pick. However, if the Yankees re-sign Bellinger or trade for Tucker, it could crush Domínguez’s value once again and dim Spencer Jones’s immediate outlook.
This move may work out well for the Yankees as a real team, but for fantasy purposes, the qualifying offer could create a frustrating season for several young players who once seemed poised for breakout roles.