Juan Soto would be the headliner within the blockbuster deal that the Yankees executed late Wednesday night time with the Padres, however Trent Grisham — the second piece coming to New York — is a reputation that Yanks followers ought to get to know as properly.
In bringing in Grisham, 27, as a part of the package deal, the Bronx Bombers are getting a two-time Gold Glove winner who joins an overhauled Yankees outfield that hopes to enhance upon a 2023 weak spot.
The 2015 first-round decide of the Brewers has a profession .699 OPS and .216 common, however it’s his defensive skillset that makes him a beneficial asset within the deal.
After he made a vital error for the Brewers within the 2019 wild card sport, Grisham got here again to win Gold Gloves for his play in middle discipline in 2020 and 2022 earlier than totaling seven outs above common in 2023, which put him within the 92nd percentile, in accordance with Baseball Savant.
His protection could possibly be vital for the Yankees late in video games, as Aaron Decide tasks as a mean middle discipline defender whereas Soto ranks properly towards the underside in outs above common within the nook.
With Soto, Decide and Alex Verdugo — who the Yankees acquired Tuesday — Grisham offers the Yankees additional worth to play a powerful outfield in no matter position they see match.
Former Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey mentioned he doesn’t suppose taking part in Decide in middle for the majority of the season is the correct transfer.
“No. No. No. No. No. I don’t want Judgie as my middle fielder,” Casey mentioned Wednesday on his podcast, “The Mayor’s Workplace,” in accordance with The Athletic. “I simply suppose middle discipline is so demanding, dude, and he’s such a giant man, and to should demand him to go to this point within the gaps and be on the run — you need to cowl extra floor as a middle fielder. The damage and tear on his physique — I don’t prefer it … I don’t suppose [Aaron Boone] does, both.”
Whereas Grisham’s defensive skillset is simple to see, his offense hasn’t fairly matched up.
After a powerful exhibiting through the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season with a career-high .808 OPS, his stat line on the plate has since plummeted.
Grisham has hit beneath .200 the previous two seasons, slashing .198/.315/.352 this previous 12 months.
However the outfielder has proven a propensity for drawing walks, drawing free passes in 13.5 p.c of his plate appearances final 12 months, which ranked within the prime eight p.c of baseball.
New York baseball followers could already be considerably acquainted with Grisham from the 2022 NL wild card collection when the Padres ousted the Mets in three video games.
The outfielder had 4 hits — together with two residence runs — with three RBIs within the collection.