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Yankees outfielder linked to signing with Dodgers.
The New York Yankees could have a completely different-looking outfield next season.
New York’s outfield consisted of Cody Bellinger in left field, Trent Grisham in center field, and Aaron Judge in right field. Yet, Bellinger and Grisham are both pending free agents, and they both could sign elsewhere.
Heading into free agency, MLB insider and analyst Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report linked the Los Angeles Dodgers to Grisham in free agency.
“If they’re looking to sign a one-year solution until at least one of the outfield prospects is ready in 2027, the best option is probably just bringing back Michael Conforto at what would presumably be a discounted rate in the aftermath of his tough year,” Miller wrote.
“But maybe they instead pursue a multi-year deal with a 28-year-old, two-time Gold Glove center fielder fresh off the most homer-happy season of his career, by far. Grisham looked like a non-tender candidate one year ago. But he has quite unexpectedly become maybe the third-most coveted outfielder in this free agent class, behind only Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.”
Grisham would be the Dodgers‘ starting center fielder and also add more offense to the lineup, which struggled at times in the World Series.
Grisham is a pending free agent after earning just $5 million in 2025 and will be in line for a raise. The 29-year-old hit 34 home runs and 74 RBIs this season.
Yankees Could Extend Qualifying Offer to Grisham
New York will have to make some difficult decisions this offseason.
The Yankees have several key pending free agents like Grisham and Bellinger, and there is a chance New York only brings one of them back.
Yet, MLB insider Joel Sherman of The New York Post believes the Yankees could extend a qualifying offer to Grisham and then trade him if he accepts.
“If Grisham accepts the qualifying offer and the Yankees ultimately sign Bellinger, I do not think it is impossible for the Yanks to trade Grisham,” Sherman wrote. “They would have to take a salary back or eat some money, but center field and offense are in short supply, so as long as it is not the full $22.05 million, then I could see the Yanks being able to move Grisham.”
Grisham is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner.
Grisham Wasn’t Thinking About Free Agency
Although Grisham was a pending free agent, he said he wasn’t focusing on that this season.
Instead, during the year, Grisham said he was focused on just playing and trying to help the Yankees win baseball games.
“I would start by saying free agency is not on the forefront of my mind because what’s most important right here is winning now,” Grisham said to NJ.com. “I think Yankee fans can appreciate that. We still have a month and a half left. We have a really good chance to win it all. So that should be the clear-cut focus. But you’re human. That stuff crosses your mind. I do my best to not let it go there for long and just kind of be where my feet are.”
Grisham has spent the last two seasons with the Yankees, as he was part of the trade that brought Juan Soto to New York.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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