The best possible alternative path for Yankees' offseason after Trent Grisham's QO

Ladies and gentlemen, meet your 2026 New York Yankees center fielder, Trent Grisham. By virtue of accepting the qualifying offer, it's now a foregone conclusion that Grisham will once again be the man roaming the middle of the Yankees outfield.

While the door isn't technically shut on a Cody Bellinger reunion, the fierce competition the Yankees would face to reunite with the popular outfielder makes a re-signing extremely unlikely, with another expensive center field solution already in the fold.

We can debate the merits of the gamble the Yankees took, but ultimately, what's done is done. And there is a silver lining. While Grisham is expensive for 2026, it's only a one-year commitment, meaning the Yankees can pursue long-term deals elsewhere. So what's the best path forward? Well, there are a few moving parts.

This plan is the best Yankees' pivot after Trent Grisham surprisingly accepted the qualifying offer

Outside of center field, the Yankees' needs remain unchanged. The club needs to add a starter, the bullpen needs an overhaul, and right-handed balance and contact prowess are needed for the lineup. More abstract is the plan for Ben Rice and how to handle Ryan McMahon's exceptional glove but subpar bat at the hot corner moving forward.

The best fit for the Yankees in the rotation of all the free agents is Michael King. He's proven in New York, has top-of-the-rotation ability, and likely comes cheaper both in terms of dollars and years than the competition. That last part is important for a team that already has big money committed to Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodón in 2026 and the next several years to come.

The next step is killing two birds with one stone. The Yankees would be wise to sign Japanese superstar Kazuma Okamoto. Okamoto has registered a strikeout rate below 20% in seven of his eight NPB seasons, with his worst mark (21%) coming all the way back in 2019, and his best performance (11.3%) coming this year.

That skill seems likely to translate stateside as well. Okamoto's low strikeout rate also comes with a high walk rate, and his 84% contact rate against 94+ miles per hour fastballs bodes well for success in MLB. Okamoto's been a monster power threat in Japan, but, as we saw with Hideki Matsui, that might become more moderate against big league pitching. Still, if a Matsui-like performance is what you get, you can't be mad.

Okamoto's a right-handed bat and comes with some positional versatility. He can play first base, third base, and left field all reasonably well. With McMahon needing a right-handed caddy, he would solve that need, while also being able to fill in at first when Rice is working behind the plate.

With that, it's time to wrap up the loose ends. The outfield is still incredibly left-handed, with Jasson Dominguez essentially useless against southpaws and Spencer Jones making a push for the big league roster. Bellinger's reverse split — he hit .353 against southpaws in 2025 — helped balance that out, but without him a different option is needed.

That's where Austin Hays comes in. The 30-year-old corner outfielder has made a career out of mashing lefties. He owns a career .819 OPS against them and was even better in 2025 with a .949 mark.

Finally, to put a bow on the proceedings, the Yankees could address the bullpen with two signings. While glitzy names like Edwin Diaz will draw attention, David Bednar is perfectly capable of closing out games.

Instead, the Yankees need to focus on consistency and durability. With that, two additions would be perfect.

First is Tyler Rogers. Traded to the crosstown Mets at the deadline, Rogers is one of the most consistent players at the league's most volatile position that you'll find. In each of the last five seasons, he's logged at least 70 innings while posting an ERA of 3.57 or better, including a career-best 1.98 mark this year. He won't be as expensive as the flashier options, but he'll still cost a decent amount for a couple of years.

Second, Kyle Finnegan would be a great addition. With a 3.55 career ERA, Finnegan is almost a lock to finish in the mid-3 range, has consistently been available, and brings closer experience as added insurance. He made just $6 million last season, so while a raise is a guarantee, he still won't break the bank.

This might not satisfy the Bellinger fanatics or the Kyle Tucker dreamers, but it would solve all of the Yankees' needs, provide upside, and still fit within the budget. At the end of the day, that's all we can ask for, especially after the Grisham curveball.