3 Brian Cashman trades that deserve more credit as it concerns the 2025 Yankees

Brian Cashman has always been a divisive figure in Yankees lore, and rightfully so. While he’s been at the helm for four Yankees World Series wins, a lot of the discussion around him recently has been focused on the moves he hasn’t made as the Yankees look to win their first World Series since 2009 (and didn't Gene Michael deserve most of that '90s credit, anyway?). 

But, as the Yankees attempt to finish off their quest to make it to the postseason yet again, it’s worth pointing out three Cashman trades that have helped build the team they’re putting on the field right now. 

3 Brian Cashman trades that deserve more credit as it concerns the 2025 Yankees

OF Cody Bellinger
.278/.334/.500, 28 HR, 90 RBI entering the weekend

Bellinger had always been a favorite of Cashman’s, and he wasted no time grabbing him from the Cubs last winter in exchange for $5 million and right-hander Cody Poteet. It’s quickly becoming one of the best deals in the history of Cashman’s time running the Yankees. 

The 30-year-old seems destined to earn some MVP votes at the end of this season, and has become a formidable bat in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup around Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. 

The only problem with Bellinger and the Yankees is the fact that he’s all but guaranteed to be a free agent after the season. He has a $25 million player option next season with a $5 million buy-out, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where he doesn’t opt out and seek a nine-figure deal.

While we don’t know if Cashman is going to be willing to give that out to him, we do know that he was willing to pull the trigger and trade for him. And it’s been a clear win. 

2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
.240/.336/.484, 28 HR, 72 RBI entering the weekend

The Yankees’ deal for Chisholm was a bit of a head-scratcher at last year's trade deadline because of all of the question marks surrounding his presence on the roster. He moved positions between second base and the outfield (two positions that were handled at the time) and seemed to be a bit of a mercurial presence in the clubhouse. 

Thirteen months later, this trade has been an obvious win for the Yankees. Chisholm’s hit .252 with 39 home runs in his first 153 games with the Yankees, was an All-Star this season and mashed two big home runs last year in the postseason. He’s also under team control for two more years. 

Chisholm may not be a fit on every team or in every clubhouse, but Cashman’s acquisition of him has been a clear win for the Yankees (even if the pieces he gave up for Chisholm are beginning to blossom in Miami). 

OF Trent Grisham
.242/.349/.470, 30 HR, 64 RBI entering the weekend

It took a second, but Cashman’s trade for Grisham has turned into a win for the Yankees. He initially acquired Grisham from the Padres in December 2023 as a part of the Juan Soto trade, and he hit just. 170 in his first year in pinstripes. 

But then something clicked in the offseason, and Grisham has gone from salary filler in one of the biggest trades in baseball history to a bonafide everyday player. 

Although he’s a bit streaky, he’s tattooed right-handed pitchers to the tune of a .901 OPS and has been steady in center field, even if his defensive metrics have taken a bit of a dip.

There was nothing Grisham could do to make up for the disappointment of Soto spurning the Yankees in free agency after just one season in the Bronx, but he’s done a good job carving out a path for himself and making the trade look like more and more of a win. He’s due to be a free agent after the season.