The Athletic | Chris Kirschner (unlocked): The Yankees took a calculated risk in offering Trent Grisham the $22 million qualifying offer last winter, and you could make a fair argument the gamble hasn’t paid off. Grish has been the worst center fielder in baseball by OAA and the slowest at the position as well. He’s looked considerably more vulnerable at the position in the past couple of months, and unlike last year when he was also not great defensively, his 128 wRC+ bat has dropped a full 30 points, making him a below-average hitter. With every run — scored or allowed — meaning something for the Yankees right now, it’s time to wonder if he’s the right player for the September stretch run.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Speaking of outfielders, Spencer Jones. The Yankee rookie is starting to get his feet under him in the majors, with a 105 wRC+ on the season and some flashes of being an above-average player. This week’s series in Anaheim is something of a special moment for Jones, who was originally drafted by the Angels out of high school before going on to play college ball at Vanderbilt. Drafted in the 31st round in 2019, Jones was considered by the Angels org to have some two-way potential, but Vandy solidified the power profile into the player we know today.
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New York Post | Greg Joyce: Speaking of outfielders, Aaron Judge! The Yankee captain seems as though he will skip a rehab assignment and could be ready to return to the lineup next week in the Bronx. What I said above about every run being meaningful goes double for the three-time MVP, as 75-80 percent of Judge is still better than most of the players you could possibly run out on a field…including arguably the team’s starting center fielder.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Combining the need to save some bullpen arms, keep Max Fried on a calculated return from injury, and the fact he and Will Warren were lined up to pitch in the same game, Warren will likely act as a piggyback for the Yankee lefty Friday in San Diego. Piggybacking has long been rumored as the next stage of pitching strategy, and after Warren’s excellent start Sunday against the Red Sox, you have to be interested to see how it’ll turn out.
Lastly, we get an update on some bullpen depth decisions. Squeezed out of the active roster mix by the Yankees’ activation of Max Fried, recent Yankee relief addition Justin Topa will remain with the organization. He’s not one of the September “call-ups” — that would be erstwhile Royals reliever John Schreiber and the previously injured Ryan McMahon — but Topa is sticking around at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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