Yankees bringing in Randal Grichuk as nonroster invitee
Feb 25, 2026
The Yankees have finally found an outfielder who hits from the right side.
The club agreed to a minor league deal with Randal Grichuk on Wednesday night, multiple sources confirmed to the Daily News. As a result, the veteran will be in Yankees camp as a non-roster invitee.
The YES Network’s Jack C
urry first reported the trade.
The Yankees explored the righty-swinging outfield market over the offseason, but players of varied interest, including Austin Hays, Harrison Bader and Austin Slater, all ended up elsewhere. Hays and Bader, in particular, signed for salaries and roles that didn’t quite fit the Bombers’ plans.
But Grichuk, a Yankees killer earlier in his career, is coming cheap and can contend for the last spot on a bench that also projects to feature catcher J.C. Escarra, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and utilityman Amed Rosario, though that combo would lack a dependable backup shortstop.
The 34-year-old Grichuk has played all three outfield spots, and he brings an .819 career OPS against lefties. That number fell to .703 in 2025 but was above .900 in 2023 and 2024.
Overall, Grichuk slashed .228/.273/.401 with nine homers and 27 RBI in 113 games with the Diamondbacks and Royals last season.
If Grichuk makes the Yankees’ roster, he could share at-bats with center fielder Trent Grisham, a lefty swinger who crushed 34 homers last year but had a .652 OPS against southpaws. Grichuk could play left field when the Yankees face a left-hander, while Cody Bellinger could move over to center.
With Grichuk in the fold, there’s an even higher chance that Jasson Domínguez and Oswaldo Cabrera start the season at Triple-A. Those possibilities already existed though, as Domínguez is in need of everyday reps and was imperfect for a bench role as the switch-hitter continues to work on his right-side swing and defense, which is limited to left field.
Cabrera, meanwhile, is being eased back into action as he returns from an ankle fracture.
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