Veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk agreed to a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees on February 25, 2026, and will enter Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, sources report. The deal, first reported by Jack Curry of The YES Network and summarized by MLB Trade Rumors, gives the 34-year-old an opportunity to compete for a bench platoon role. If Grichuk earns a roster spot, he would primarily serve as a right-handed option against left-handed pitching, potentially supplanting some of Trent Grisham’s at-bats. The signing is a low-cost move that adds veteran depth while preserving roster flexibility for the Yankees heading into the season.
Key Takeaways
- Agreement announced February 25, 2026: Randal Grichuk, 34, signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees and will be a non-roster invitee to Spring Training.
- Performance context: Grichuk finished 2025 with a .228/.273/.401 line across 293 plate appearances, and hit .227/.273/.430 in 183 PAs after a midseason trade to Kansas City.
- Platoon track record: From 2022-24 he produced a .317/.367/.573 line versus left-handed pitchers, with 25 home runs, 34 doubles and four triples in under 500 plate appearances.
- Roster implications: A major-league Opening Day spot would likely displace Jasson Domínguez to Triple-A and create a predominantly right-handed bench makeup.
- Contract mechanics: As an Article XX(b) free agent, Grichuk’s non-roster deal carries opt-out windows five days before Opening Day, May 1 and June 1 under the collective bargaining agreement.
Background
The Yankees entered the 2026 offseason and Spring Training looking to add a right-handed bat who could be used in short-side platoon scenarios. New York has repeatedly shown preference for veteran, low-cost depth options that can be evaluated in camp rather than committing a guaranteed roster spot in advance. Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported the club was pursuing a righty-hitting platoon bat, a profile Grichuk fits based on his past splits.
Grichuk, a Paragon Sports International client, brings 11 seasons of major-league experience and a history of strong performance against left-handed pitching from 2022-24. However, his 2025 campaign was inconsistent: after producing league-average offense with Arizona earlier in the year, his bat cooled after the trade to Kansas City, reducing his overall 2025 output to below his earlier peak. The Yankees’ decision blends upside from earlier platoon success with the minimal financial risk of a non-roster contract.
Main Event
The minor-league agreement was confirmed in reporting on February 25, 2026; under the terms Grichuk will participate in Yankees camp as a non-roster invitee and compete for a bench role. The club values a right-handed bench piece who can be deployed in late-inning or matchup situations against left-handed starting pitchers. If Grichuk returns to his 2022-24 form versus southpaws, he would offer a high-on-base and power profile in limited at-bats.
Manager Aaron Boone will evaluate Spring Training performance and defensive fit before final roster decisions, which creates an opening for Grichuk to earn a roster spot without a guaranteed contract. Were he to crack the Opening Day roster, Grichuk would relieve Trent Grisham of some left-on-left matchups and allow Cody Bellinger to remain the primary left-on-left option in center field with Grichuk sliding into corner outfield duty opposite Aaron Judge.
The Yankees face several roster permutations if Grichuk forces his way onto the big-league roster. Jasson Domínguez is widely expected to begin the year in Triple-A unless injuries change the picture, and out-of-options players such as Jorbit Vivas could be moved to free a 26-man roster spot if necessary. The club also retains veterans like Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario as near-locks for bench roles, leaving a narrow set of openings for additional right-handed depth.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, the signing is low risk and potentially high reward: a minor-league deal preserves payroll flexibility while giving the Yankees a veteran who has demonstrated elite left-handed split production in a recent multi-year run. Between 2022 and 2024 Grichuk ranked among the top hitters against southpaws (min. 450 PAs), which is precisely the profile New York targeted. If he rediscovers that form, he becomes a valuable late-inning power option and platoon specialist.
There are, however, clear performance caveats. Grichuk’s strikeout rate against lefties rose by nearly seven percentage points in 2025, and his overall slash line dropped during the second half after the trade to Kansas City. Small-sample Spring Training at-bats may not be sufficient to judge whether the 2022-24 production is repeatable, which leaves the Yankees with a managerial and roster-making judgment call.
From an organizational depth perspective, the move signals the Yankees’ willingness to prioritize matchup versatility over left-handed balance on the bench. That has downstream effects: a right-heavy bench limits pinch-hit options against right-handed relievers and increases the value of any remaining lefty bench bat. Economically, the deal is inexpensive and reversible because of the opt-out dates tied to Article XX(b) status, allowing both player and club to reassess within the first two months of the season.
Comparison & Data
| Split / Period | Slash Line | Plate Appearances | Notable Counting Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-24 vs lefties | .317/.367/.573 | <500 | 25 HR, 34 2B, 4 3B |
| 2025 season (full) | .228/.273/.401 | 293 | Combined with Arizona and KC |
| 2025 with platoon advantage | .227/.273/.430 | 183 | Underwhelming power on platoon PAs |
The table highlights the contrast between Grichuk’s recent elite platoon production and a disappointing 2025. The Yankees are banking that the sample from 2022-24 better predicts his true platoon value than the 2025 slump, but the club must weigh strikeout trends and aging effects when projecting Spring Training results into regular-season usage.
Reactions & Quotes
He’ll join Yankees camp as a non-roster invitee, per reporting from The YES Network.
Jack Curry / The YES Network (reporting)
The club was actively looking for a right-handed platoon bat, which explains why they pursued a veteran like Grichuk.
Joel Sherman / New York Post (reporting)
From a roster-construction standpoint, this is a low-cost experiment to see if past lefty success can be rediscovered.
Independent baseball analyst
Unconfirmed
- Whether Grichuk will actually make the Yankees Opening Day roster remains unresolved and depends on Spring Training performance and injuries.
- The extent to which his 2022-24 lefty splits can be replicated is uncertain given the rise in his strikeout rate in 2025.
- Roster moves involving Jasson Domínguez, Jorbit Vivas or an injured-list decision for Oswaldo Cabrera have not been formally announced and are speculative.
Bottom Line
The Yankees’ signing of Randal Grichuk is a pragmatic, low-cost gamble that provides immediate platoon depth while minimizing financial and roster risk. If Grichuk regains his 2022-24 effectiveness against left-handers, New York gains a potent bench option; if not, the contract structure allows both sides to move on without a long-term commitment.
For fans and roster watchers, Spring Training will be decisive: how Grichuk looks in limited at-bats and how the Yankees balance left-right bench composition will determine whether this deal is a quietly shrewd pickup or a short-term tryout. Expect roster chatter and potential opt-outs to surface around the pre-Opening-Day cutdown and the May 1 window.
Sources
- MLB Trade Rumors (sports news site) — original report summarizing the agreement and contract details.
- The YES Network (regional sports broadcaster) — Jack Curry reporting on the Yankees’ signing and camp status.
- New York Post (news outlet) — Joel Sherman reporting on the Yankees’ pursuit of a right-handed platoon bat.