The Tuesday Discussion: Who?

August 19, 2025

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This week we asked our writers the following:

Of the following would-be free agents after the 2025 season, if you could sign only one, right now, who would you choose...

Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Paul Goldschmidt, or Trent Grisham?

Here are their replies...

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Ed Botti - Not an easy question, and it also depends on who else is also going to be available. Right off the bat, I can eliminate 2.

Devin Williams, because he is not cut out for the bright lights, and Paul Goldschmidt since he turns at 38 in September. If Goldschmidt was just a few years younger, he’d make this an easy question.

I would then move Bellinger to first base for the majority of the games, and still have Rice to use at 1^st, DH and catcher.

That will weaken my outfield, but open a spot. The Yankee outfield is the strongest part of this team in 2025.

Luke Weaver I absolutely want to keep, but late inning relievers these days are easier to replace, and they have Bednar signed for 2026 and 2027.

So that leaves Trent Grisham, who I started writing about as a Yankee target in 2022.

Grisham is an excellent fielder who is now a seasoned vet with 2 Gold Gloves, yet still south of his prime at only 28 (he turns 29 in the off season ). He has learned how to best use his offensive abilities, and thus has broken out in 2025, and he knows how to handle to bright lights of NY. There is no risk with him choking in the spot light, and that is a real issue to consider. Plus he is a real centerfielder, not someone they will ask to move to CF.

When you look at who else is a top centerfielder in 2025, we have (IMO) Julio Rodriguez, Jackson Chourio, Byron Buxton, and Pete Crow-Armstrong at the highest level with Michael Harris II and Jackson Merrill next and, Ceddanne Rafaela and Oneli Cruz just a notch below.

I see Grisham fitting in well with that group, and want him for his prime years.

I bring him back as part of my outfield rotation.

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James Vlietstra - At this point, I’m giving both Bellinger and Grisham the Qualifying Offer. I’d let Williams and Goldschmidt walk. 

I would concentrate on trying to resign Luke Weaver. 

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Derek McAdam - Having a solid reliever who can pitch in any inning is crucial, and Luke Weaver fits that well. Trent Grisham is a close second, but the Yankees have plenty of outfielders they can possibly use next year. 

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Tim Kabel - Of the four players listed, I would sign Luke Weaver. I think Devin Williams needs to go elsewhere to be successful. Trent Grisham will be replaced by Spencer Jones and Paul Goldschmidt would be too much of a risk as I think his decline will continue. Yankees were able to get everything they could out of him this year. I don’t think they would be so lucky next year. Luke Weaver would be a valuable part of the bullpen next year, regardless of his role. 

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Paul Semendinger - A few weeks ago, I would have said none of them, but Luke Weaver seems to have turned his season around. He is worth keeping as needed bullpen depth - a pitcher who can close if necessary.

Paul Goldschmidt has been a terrific player, but his age is showing. Trent Grisham has been amazing, but this season is such a career outlier that I do not believe it will be sustained. I was rooting for Devin Williams, but it is clear that hasn't worked out. As such, Weaver is the only one of the four I would bring back.

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Mike Whiteman - I've said over and over that I'm a big fan of Luke Weaver and I'd like to see him re-signed. I also think he's the most practical signing of the four mentioned:

Devin Williams I suspect will want to go someplace where he's immediately slotted in as closer. The Yankees have David Bednar in his way. 

I think Ben Rice's play this year has won him a 2026 job, and first base looks like the spot. Goldschmidt has been a great part of the team in 2025, but it will likely be a one-year tenure in the Bronx. 

Trent Grisham has positioned himself for a real nice contract, the one that will set him and his family up for life. While I wouldn't mind locking him up for a year or two, I think another team will offer longer, and I don't want the Yankees to match it. I'd just as soon see them put resources into Cody Belinger, give Jasson Dominguez a full shot in left or center field, and create the flexibility for an opportunity for Spencer Jones. 

Weaver has excelled in whatever relief role the Yanks have used him in the past couple of years. With Bednar seemingly set as the Yankee closer next season, Weaver can be deployed in the seventh/eighth innings as a bridge to the ninth.