The Yankees are heading toward a much different outfield picture by the time the 2027 season arrives, and Trent Grisham’s likely exit is only the first domino.
Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr. are both set to reach free agency this winter, and while Chisholm could still stick around, Grisham looks like the clear cut-off point after a major step backward in 2026. He hit .199 with a .680 OPS while batting leadoff, then was sent to the top of the order in an elimination game and went 0-for-5. The season ended with the kind of finish that made his place in the lineup hard to justify.
But replacing Grisham is not as simple as swapping in another center fielder. His departure opens up a hole, and the Yankees have to decide whether they fill it from inside the roster or go shopping.
Cody Bellinger is the only outfielder who feels like a sure thing at one of the three spots. Beyond that, everything is in motion. Aaron Judge’s right field role is less settled after an injury-heavy 2026, and there is a real chance the Yankees use him more at designated hitter.
That possibility makes Spencer Jones one of the biggest decisions in front of them. The 25-year-old showed real progress at the plate as a rookie, and the simplest path for his development is regular playing time. The question is where that playing time comes from: center field or right field.
Jones logged 315.1 innings in center and 253.2 in right in 2026, but the defensive numbers were better in the corner. In center, he finished at -4 Defensive Runs Saved and -4 Outs Above Average.
In right, he posted zero Outs Above Average. Even so, the Yankees believe his speed and arm can eventually make him a plus defender at either spot, and they are counting on more growth with the bat as well.
Judge’s role also ties directly into what happens with Giancarlo Stanton. If Judge becomes the regular DH, Stanton’s fit gets murky fast. Stanton is limited to that one spot, so moving him off designated hitter would effectively end his run in the Bronx.
If the Yankees decide Jones belongs in center and Judge is better served as DH, then they will need a right fielder. Heliot Ramos does not look like the answer because of his shaky defense and platoon profile.
Among free agents, Seiya Suzuki stands out as the strongest fit, after becoming a Gold Glove finalist to go with an impact bat. The catch is age, and the Yankees may not want to commit to him on a long-term deal.
If Jones slides to right instead, then center field becomes the problem. That would push the Yankees toward the trade market, where Steven Kwan could be available from the Cleveland Guardians.
Kwan is entering the final year of his contract and brings a polished hit tool, strong plate discipline and Gold Glove-caliber defense in center. He would also cost plenty and would likely be a rental for 2027.
However the Yankees sort it out, the center field vacancy Grisham leaves behind is part of a larger puzzle. His strong 2025 season never carried over into 2026, and his defense kept slipping even before two hamstring injuries landed him on the injured list. He may bounce back somewhere else in 2027, but in the Bronx, the fit has already gone cold.
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Bowden also sees New York getting pulled into a very different kind of pursuit, one that could come with a familiar rival attached. He projects a bidding battle between the Yankees and Red Sox for NPB player Teruaki Sato, even as there are reports suggesting New York may hesitate because of defensive concerns. That leaves the Yankees weighing whether to commit resources to preserve their bullpen core while also deciding how far they want to go on an international target with some real question marks. [Read more 🡒]