The New York Yankees season ended on Wednesday with a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. It was a sweep that left the franchise without a World Series title for 17 straight years. Now the front office faces a hard choice about their outfield.
Per Sports Illustrated, the team cannot afford to re-sign Trent Grisham for the 2027 season. This move would be a massive error that blocks real improvement.
A Expensive Bet That Failed
Grisham signed a one-year deal worth $22.025 million last November. He accepted the qualifying offer after hitting a career-high 34 home runs in 2025. But his 2026 numbers tell a different story. The soon-to-be 30-year-old hit just .211 with 18 homers this year.
His defense and speed also came under heavy fire during the playoffs. He went 2-for-15 in five playoff games including against the Rays. One of those hits even came on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt.
The money spent on him did not buy the results the team needed. The Yankees have a clear path forward without him. They can keep Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger while adding younger talent. Spencer Jones and Heliot Ramos are already on the roster.
Jasson Dominguez could return if he fixes his defensive issues. Keeping Grisham would waste funds that could upgrade a weak spot. The roster needs fresh legs, not a player who struggled to hit.
Stephen A. Smith Wants Change
The failure to win has sparked loud calls for a shift in direction. Stephen A. Smith addressed the 17-year championship drought on Thursday. He noted that the team has only one title since 2009. Smith said, “There needs to be change.” He stopped short of demanding manager Aaron Boone’s firing but made his point clear. He called the lack of a title “unacceptable” for a franchise with this history.
The pressure is on the front office to act fast. They cannot just hope things get better on their own. The Rays swept the series after winning Games 1 and 2 at Tropicana Field. Game 3 at Yankee Stadium ended in heartbreak.
Anthony Volpe appeared to hit a game-tying home run. A fan interference call overturned the shot and gave Volpe a double instead. The Yankees never held a lead in the 27 innings of the series. Ben Rice summed up the mood after the final out.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a failure since we weren’t able to get the job done,” Rice said. He added that the Rays simply outplayed them. “They outpitched us, out-hit us. It’s really that simple.”
The Braves face a similar issue with Ha-Seong Kim, but the Yankees must fix their own outfield first. Letting Grisham walk is the only logical step to fix the team.