This offseason, the Yankees are finally doing what they should’ve done a year ago with Juan Soto, going all in. Reportedly, with a wave of players like Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, and Devin Williams about to hit free agency, New York’s front office isn’t wasting any time. They’ve been aggressive, locking in some of the top names on the market, but not the ones fans expected.

While fans are still waiting for that official word on Cody Bellinger, the Yankees have already managed to hang on to another key bat… The very player who stepped in after Soto’s departure, Trent Grisham! However, while offering a qualifying offer to Grisham after his dominant year is a positive sign, it might just be putting an end to Bellinger’s decision.

“Giving Grisham the qualifying offer suggests the front office is preparing for the worst with Cody Bellinger, who opted out of his contract and hit free agency,” Yanks Go Yard reported.

So, the first domino of the Yankees’ offseason has officially dropped. Trent Grisham, with a 34-homer season, has been given the team’s $22.025 million qualifying offer. However, it’s not clear how much interest there will be around the league for a 29-year-old outfielder whose defense has started to slip.

And yes, it’s a bit of a surprise, considering Grisham was on the verge of being non-tendered just a year ago. Sure, the power numbers were impressive, but there were some warning signs beneath the surface. For instance, his once-elite defense has dipped from a +7 Fielding Run Value in 2023 to +3 in 2024 and is now down to -3. However, for the Yankees fans, this move feels like the Yankees are bracing for the possibility that Cody Bellinger won’t be back!

Bellinger is the name everyone wants to see stay in pinstripes. But for those who haven’t followed closely, the Yankees usually don’t dive into big-money bidding wars. And with Bellinger reportedly drawing interest from the Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers, and Mets, it’s hard to see New York joining that chase.

Add to that the fact that Bellinger is expected to command more than $200 million on the open market. And it’s fair to question whether Brian Cashman is willing to make that kind of splash. Moreover, now that the Yankees are doubling down on Trent Grisham, it feels like landing both him and Bellinger would take a miracle, especially with the team also rumored to be pursuing Kyle Tucker.

Kyle Tucker is standing between the Yankees and Cody Bellinger

Well, even if the Yankees wanted to bring back both Grisham and Bellinger, that’s not the case with Kyle Tucker. Why? Because when it comes to Tucker, it’s pretty much an either-or situation — him or Bellinger. And now that Grisham’s qualifying offer is official, the Yankees’ big offseason choice seems to come down to those two stars.

Kyle Tucker is arguably the top free agent on the market this winter. He’s coming off a solid season, batting .266 with 22 HRs and an .841 OPS over 136 games, and earned his fourth straight All-Star nod. But as you’d expect, that kind of consistency won’t come cheap. For reference, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projects Tucker to land an 11-year deal worth a whopping $418 million!

While it is true that Tucker has the edge over Bellinger offensively, as he ranks 11th in WAR and ninth among all hitters since 2021, Bellinger’s versatility in the field and stronger defensive metrics could complicate the decision. So, even leaving Bellinger would also have its own repercussions on the Yankees.

Still, it’s hard to imagine the Yankees matching Tucker’s projected price tag, especially since it would surpass even Aaron Judge’s contract. That would be a true shocker in the Bronx.