The big news straight out of the Bronx: Trent Grisham accepted the Yankees’ qualifying offer of one year for $22M. “He had a hell of a year for us,” Brian Cashman said when extending the deal to the outfielder. Now that Grisham has accepted, the front office expects him to deliver the same level of production in the summer of 2026. But Yankees fans aren’t celebrating. The reason? His return might slam the door shut on the NYY top prospects.

That prospect? Jasson Dominguez. He is the Clubhouse’s top prospect, who has drawn comparisons to Mike Trout as he is “more advanced than Mike Trout was at the same age”, said ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. At just 18 years old, scouts believe Dominguez is major league-ready. But with Grisham locked in for another season, that pathway suddenly seems blocked.

The backlash exploded on social media after Yankees broadcaster Jimmy Randazzo shared his view on X. “I like Trent Grisham, but that just absolutely screwed the Yankees,” he wrote. “I don’t know why they ever offered the qualifying offer. Now what do you do? If you sign Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker, there is zero room for Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez on this team. I hate this.” His post lit the fuse, and Yankees fans piled on with their own concerns.

The situation grows more complicated when you examine the roster construction. Grisham occupies center field, the exact position where Dominguez projects to play. Add potential signings like Bellinger or Tucker into the mix, and the outfield suddenly has no breathing room for prospects.

This isn’t the first time fans have accused the Yankees of blocking homegrown talent. A similar frustration occurred when Clint Frazier and Estevan Florial were buried behind veteran outfielders, despite strong prospect grades. The Grisham decision taps into that same long-standing tension between player development and veteran reliance.

The Yankees built their farm system around players like Dominguez and Jones, but now they face an uncertain future.

Grisham delivered a career year in 2025, batting .235 with a career-high 34 home runs and 74 RBIs. Those power numbers helped him post a career-best .811 OPS and earned him the qualifying offer from the front office. His breakout season came after years of struggling at the plate, making the Yankees believe they had finally unlocked something special.

Meanwhile, Dominguez battled through his first full major league season with mixed results. The 22-year-old hit .257 with a .331 on-base percentage across 429 plate appearances, showing flashes of brilliance but also the inconsistency expected from young players. His memorable three-homer game against Oakland in May, where he became the youngest Yankee ever to accomplish that feat, proved his ceiling remains sky-high.

But here’s where the prospect conversation gets interesting. Kiley McDaniel, author of ESPN’s top 100 MLB prospects list, recently made waves with his assessment of Dominguez. “You can kind of pick whatever name you want,” McDaniel explained. “Technically, he’s more advanced than Trout was at the same age because Trout went 25th overall as an 18-year-old, and this guy is not 18 yet, and he was considered the best 16-year-old in the world a year ago.”

Well, he isn’t the only one who might be affected by this move. There’s Spencer Jones, too. The Yankees’ promising outfield prospect, who hit 35 homers across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, is facing a more complicated reality these days. Though his play suggests he’s ready, the addition of Trent Grisham and a packed outfield could delay Jones’s ascent to the big leagues, making his immediate prospects in New York less sure.

And the bleacher creature is aware of it, and they did not hold back their thoughts.

The fan lens: How supporters view the Grisham signing

Much of the outrage isn’t just about playing time — it’s financial. With Hal Steinbrenner voicing concerns about payroll increases, fans worry that dedicating $22 million to Grisham limits the club’s ability to chase high-impact free agents. That fear is amplified because the Yankees have already missed out on multiple top targets due to luxury tax concerns in recent offseasons.

Some fans view the Trent Grisham signing as throwing good money after bad. The concern centers on his inconsistent hitting over multiple seasons before joining the NYY.

“Really foolish move by Cashman. Spends $22M on a CF who will likely revert to the .190 hitter he was in the 3 prior years. Now blocks Jones & Dominguez if he signs Bellinger. At best, they just re-run the same team that wasn’t good enough this year. Hal has put a hard cap on,” one frustrated fan wrote. The criticism is sharper given the Yankees’ ownership spending constraints. Every dollar spent on Grisham limits funds for pitching upgrades or other roster needs.

Some fans see a way out through spending money and making trades. “You eat some of the salary and move Grisham. It’s not the end of the world. Just a stu–d gamble by Yankees.” The Yankees have a history of absorbing player contracts, such as $26 million of Giancarlo Stanton’s deal and part of Josh Donaldson’s in 2022. As teams chase playoff spots, they often seek outfield help, giving the Yankees leverage to trade Trent Grisham if enticing prospects come along. His strong defensive skills make him a valuable asset for contenders.

Others proposed a complete roster overhaul to solve the logjam. “One way or another, one will be traded. Grisham will also be traded. How about trade for Kwan and sign Bellinger and Bregman? They have McMahan available for a trade.” Steven Kwan from Cleveland could reinforce left field, while Ryan McMahon from Colorado would strengthen third base. This plan would require the Yankees to handle multiple transactions simultaneously, similar to Cashman’s successful moves during the 2016-2017 rebuild.

Not everyone was throwing the Cashman decision under the bus. “I’d rather have Grish than Dominguez TBH, Jones is a different story,” one fan stated bluntly, drawing a clear distinction between the two prospects. It reflects skepticism toward hyped prospects who haven’t proven themselves against big-league pitching yet.

The harshest criticism targets the Yankees’ broader strategy. Some fans see the Grisham signing as evidence that the front office plans to run back the same roster that fell short in 2025. “Yup…. Running back for a failed team. Probably not enough money for Imai or Okamoto either,” one disappointed fan wrote. The Yankees are interested in Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai and power-hitting infielder Kazuma Okamoto. Scott Boras represents both and could command significant contracts, with Imai projected to be a six-year, $150 million deal.

Brian Cashman acknowledged that the Yankees have been “very aggressive” in the Japanese market but “fell short,” as players opted for the Dodgers. With Grisham’s $22 million committed and a tight payroll, fans are concerned about missing out on premium international talent.

The Yankees now face an uncomfortable reality. They committed to Grisham while their future outfield stars wait in the wings. How this resolves will define their 2026 season and beyond.