Trent Grisham's Return to Yankees Facing Complications

Trent Grisham may be part of the Yankees' playoff roster, but his return to regular-season play is increasingly unlikely. The team is hesitant to activate Grisham from the injured list in the final week of the regular season due to lingering hamstring strain issues and complex playoff roster considerations.

Manager Aaron Boone stated on Sunday morning that while Grisham is progressing well, his activation presents challenges. "I know he’s trending to be close, but the activation might be a little complicated," Boone said.

The primary obstacle involves roster management. Activating Grisham during the regular season would necessitate either optioning another player to Triple-A or designating someone for assignment to free up a spot. Optioning a player would render them ineligible for recall for either 10 or 15 days, depending on their position, potentially removing them from availability for the AL wild-card series and subsequent ALDS.

This situation arises as the Yankees are also managing other roster moves, such as the expected return of Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the injured list as early as Tuesday, which may lead to Max Schuemann being sent back to Triple-A. Clearing an additional spot becomes more difficult if the team aims to keep its roster intact and healthy.

The strategic decision also hinges on Grisham's potential role on the playoff roster. With Spencer Jones having filled in effectively at center field during Grisham's absence, hitting particularly well against left-handed pitching, the Yankees must weigh Grisham's readiness and impact. Further complicating matters is the potential absence of Aaron Judge from the wild-card series, which could elevate Heliot Ramos to starting right field against left-handed pitchers.

Questions remain about whether Grisham could reclaim center field against right-handed pitching, with Jones potentially shifting to right field, or if Grisham would serve as a left-handed pinch-hitting option off the bench. However, before any roster decisions are finalized, Grisham must successfully complete his running progression and receive medical clearance.

"He’s been doing quite a bit," Boone said. "He’s pretty deep into his running progression, hitting and doing baseball activities. So he’s getting pretty close."