Yankees Expected To Make Harsh Trent Grisham Decision Ahead Of Red Sox Playoff Series

The New York Yankees are closing in on a postseason matchup with their biggest rival, as the Boston Red Sox appear increasingly likely to stand between them and the American League Division Series.

An upcoming first-round series between the American League East foes appears increasingly likely with only a handful of games left in the regular season.

“It’s virtually certain that the locals are bound for a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium starting a week from Tuesday,” the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy wrote. “That entire series will be played in the Bronx, just like last year.”

That leaves Yankees manager Aaron Boone with some difficult roster decisions, particularly as he weighs how to distribute a limited number of position-player spots.

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As the Yankees weigh their options for the initial playoff roster, it seems likely they will prepare for the Red Sox’s left-handed pitching by leaving off veteran infielder Amed Rosario, while Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr and Jose Caballero get the nod.

“For the postseason roster, look for Rosario not to make the cut and Boone to stack right-handed bats against (Ranger) Suarez for Game 2 against the Red Sox with Volpe at second base for Chisholm and Caballero at third over McMahon,” Randy Miller projected for NJ.com.

Miller added that the Yankees are expected to move forward without outfielder Trent Grisham, even if he returns to full health in time for the start of the postseason.

“Grisham’s season has been disappointing,” Miller added. “The prediction here is Grisham is off the Wild Card Series regardless of if he feels ready to come off the IL beforehand.

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Ultimately, without a stunning surge in the playoffs, Grisham’s qualifying offer for this season is set to go down as a poor decision by the Yankees front office.

With Cody Bellinger assessing his free agent options, the team faced a significant hole in the outfield during the offseason. And, after a career 2025 campaign, the Yankees extended Grisham the $20 million offer which he accepted.

But he has batted just .211 with 18 homers, well below his production from last year. Now that he’s been placed on the injured list, it seems likely that his opportunities to start at center field for the Yankees have come to an end, even if he returns to full health before the end of the season.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com