Brian Cashman's $22 million Trent Grisham statement will irritate Yankees fans

The New York Yankees had almost no idea if outfielder Trent Grisham would accept the $22.05 million qualifying offer for 2026. 

No, really. In November, general manager Brian Cashman called Grisham's potential return to the Yankees a "50-50" call. Now, Cashman views the 29-year-old's contract as a "bargain" for next season. 

“At this point, that $22 million looks like a bargain, the way the free-agent market got away from everybody,” Cashman said on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio. “We’re really happy that he chose to stay with us. Hopefully, he can replicate what he did last year.”

Maybe it could turn into a bargain if Grisham produces a similar offensive output as last year. He set career highs with 34 home runs, 82 walks, and an .811 OPS. 

Why Grisham's contract may not be a bargain 

Had Grisham declined the Yankees' qualifying offer, he would have become a free agent. However, it's hard to fathom that another club would have been willing to offer an average annual salary that exceeded $22 million. 

If Grisham struggles, manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees are bound to let him work through things to justify the contract. Simply put, an organization would rather not pay a player $22 million to ride the bench. 

Grisham has a lot to prove this year for both himself and the Yankees. 

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