Overview
- Cot’s Contracts pegs the Yankees’ 2026 CBT payroll at about $281 million after Grisham’s acceptance and smaller commitments to Ryan Yarbrough and Tim Hill, with tax thresholds at $284 million and $304 million.
- GM Brian Cashman described the budget as fluid and said he has not been given an ultimate number, as Hal Steinbrenner has previously called $300 million payrolls unsustainable.
- New York is prioritizing a reunion with free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger and has shown interest in posted Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, along with needs in the rotation, bullpen and bench.
- Modest relief could come by Friday’s tender deadline, with non-tender candidates including Mark Leiter Jr. (projected $3 million), Ian Hamilton ($941,000), Jake Cousins ($841,000) and Scott Effross ($800,000).
- As a qualifying-offer acceptor, Grisham must consent to any trade before June 15, and his $22.025 million salary ties him with Giancarlo Stanton for the fifth-highest on the team as this winter’s QO acceptance total rose to four.