Yankees

$22 Million or Merit? The Yankees Center Field Decision

By ••Updated September 4, 2026•5 min read
$22 Million or Merit? The Yankees Center Field Decision

AI Overview

The Yankees face a September center-field decision when Aaron Judge returns: Spencer Jones or Trent Grisham. Since Cody Bellinger went on the injured list July 26, Jones has posted an .815 OPS, compared with Grisham’s .666, while Jones has also been stronger against left-handed pitching and is viewed as the better defender. The article argues Jones should start in center, with Grisham serving as a late-inning bench option despite his $22 million salary.

Credit: The Spencer Jones vs. Trent Grisham discussion was raised by Christian of NYY Underground. His analysis and the statistics he highlighted are used as the basis for this article.

The Yankees are getting closer to what could be the most important lineup decision of their September.

It has nothing to do with whether Aaron Judge will play when he returns.

He should be playing right field.

The real question is what happens in center.

Spencer Jones or Trent Grisham?

Christian of NYY Underground recently broke down that exact debate, and there is a legitimate argument that the Yankees should hand the job to Jones once Judge returns.

The Yankees need Judge in right field because they also need Ben Rice and Luis Garcia Jr. in the lineup. Moving Judge to designated hitter would create another difficult lineup decision, so the cleanest solution is keeping Judge in the outfield and figuring out center field.

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That’s where Jones enters the picture.

Since Cody Bellinger went on the injured list on July 26, Jones has posted an .815 OPS. Grisham, meanwhile, has posted a .666 OPS during that same stretch.

The split against left-handed pitching makes the comparison even more interesting.

Jones is hitting .368 against lefties with a 1.073 OPS. Grisham is hitting .233 with a .691 OPS.

Those numbers don’t automatically make Jones the better player. But they certainly make it difficult to justify giving Grisham the everyday job simply because he’s the veteran.

And then there’s defense.

That might actually be the biggest reason Jones should get the opportunity.

Grisham’s defensive metrics have been among the worst among center fielders this season. The Yankees can debate the individual plays all they want, but the bigger issue is what we’ve seen with our own eyes.

His reads haven’t consistently been good enough.

His routes haven’t consistently been good enough.

And his closing speed doesn’t give the Yankees the same margin for error that Jones can provide.

That becomes especially important when you start thinking about October.

The Yankees have built an elite pitching staff. Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler are capable of generating plenty of fly-ball contact, which makes outfield defense extremely important.

You don’t want a pitcher making a quality pitch only to watch a ball fall because your center fielder couldn’t get there.

That’s where Jones can change the equation.

Jones doesn’t have to become a superstar hitter overnight. He doesn’t have to put together some ridiculous offensive streak to justify playing him.

He needs to catch the baseball.

He needs to cover ground.

He needs to turn potential extra-base hits into outs.

That’s especially valuable for a team expecting to rely heavily on its pitching in October.

But there is another factor hanging over this decision, and it’s impossible to ignore.

Grisham is making $22 million.

Jones isn’t.

That’s where things get uncomfortable for the Yankees.

The organization made a significant financial commitment to Grisham, and admitting that another player might currently be a better option isn’t always easy for a front office.

But championships aren’t won by protecting contracts.

They’re won by putting the best team on the field.

That doesn’t mean Grisham should be left off the postseason roster. Quite the opposite.

There is still a very useful role for him.

Grisham can be a dangerous bench option, particularly late in games when the Yankees need a big hit. His history in high-leverage situations gives him value, and there is nothing wrong with having that type of bat available in October.

But that’s different from making him the everyday center fielder.

If the Yankees need a late-inning offensive weapon, Grisham can provide it.

If they need their best defensive center fielder on the field, Jones should get the call.

And that’s the decision the Yankees have to make without allowing the contract to influence them.

Look at the potential outfield when Judge returns.

Cody Bellinger in left. Spencer Jones in center. Aaron Judge in right.

That’s a defensive alignment that makes a lot of sense for a team with championship aspirations.

Add George Lombard Jr. back into the infield and the Yankees could have a significantly stronger defensive club heading into the postseason.

And with this pitching staff, defense isn’t some secondary issue.

It’s part of the formula.

The Yankees aren’t going to need to score 8 runs every night if their pitchers are doing what they’re capable of doing. A 3-2 game in October can be decided by one fly ball, one bad route or one extra base.

Why give the opponent that advantage?

There is also no reason for the Yankees to panic if Jones struggles offensively over the next few games.

Maybe he goes 0-for-12. Maybe he strikes out a few times. That doesn’t suddenly erase his defensive value or everything he’s shown since getting an extended opportunity.

The Yankees need to look at the entire player.

And right now, Jones gives them something Grisham doesn’t provide at the same level.

Range.

Speed.

Defensive upside.

There is a legitimate argument for keeping Grisham involved. There is also a legitimate argument that he can help the Yankees more as a bench weapon than as their everyday center fielder.

That’s the distinction.

This shouldn’t be about punishing Grisham or declaring him useless. It should be about maximizing the roster.

The Yankees have a chance to put together an extremely strong defensive team at exactly the time of year when every mistake gets magnified.

They need to take advantage of it.

When Judge comes back, the Yankees should resist the temptation to let salary determine the lineup.

Play the better defensive center fielder. Give Spencer Jones the job. Keep Trent Grisham available as a weapon off the bench.

Because if the Yankees are serious about winning the American League and making a run at the World Series, they can’t afford to let $22 million become more important than the player who gives them the best chance to win.

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