The Yankees’ bold qualifying-offer decision didn’t just surprise the league — it eliminated a top Phillies outfield target in one stroke. DD
The outfield market was already looking thin before this questionable contract decision.
When qualifying offer decisions came down on Tuesday, both of the Philadelphia Phillies’ free agents, Kyle Schwarber and Ranger Suárez, rejected their offers. It was expected, and it’s definitely not what made headlines around the league. Enter Trent Grisham and the New York Yankees.
Grisham accepted his offer from the Yankees, joining Gleyber Torres of the Detroit Tigers, Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers and Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs as the four free agents to accept. While there are some curious moves all around, the Yankees and Grisham might be the worst.
Potential free agent outfield target Trent Grisham off Phillies’ board after accepting Yankees’ qualifying offer
The Yankees’ curious decision to extend a $22 million qualifying offer to outfielder Grisham, who made $5 million in 2025, looks like it may have backfired. While it’s funny if you’re not the Yankees, it does take one more potential outfield free agent target off the board for the Phillies.
The outfield market was already desperately thin. Now you can scratch Grisham off the list of potential candidates for the Phillies to investigate. Even though Grisham hits from the left side and just had an outlier of a career season in the Bronx, the Phillies’ outfield situation also looks incredibly desperate.
The 29-year-old hit .235 but had career highs with an .812 OPS, 116 hits, 34 home runs, 74 RBIs and 87 runs scored as the Yankees’ everyday center fielder in 2025. He had a below avergae year in the field this season but has won two Gold Gloves in his career.
A right-handed bat would obviously be preferable, but as shallow as the market looks, the front office will surely leave no stone unturned this winter. After they went and signed left-handed bat Max Kepler last offseason, the lefty Grisham could have easily made it onto their list of candidates this time around.
As of this time, the Phillies don’t have an outfield, per se. Despite being under contract for one more year, Nick Castellanos is on his way out of town. Harrison Bader and Max Kepler both went to free agency. They still have Brandon Marsh, who should be a platoon player at best. The Phillies are also factoring prospect Just Crawford into the equation for next season.
The Phillies have plenty of work to do to rebuild their outfield. Grisham won’t be an option as the Yankees will be paying him a cool $22 million next year.
