Yankees Select Randal Grichuk's Contract for 2026 Season The New York Yankees have selected the contract of outfielder Randal Grichuk, securing his place on the Opening Day roster. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the decision to reporters, including New York Post’s Greg Joyce, stating Grichuk will be part of the team’s 26-man roster for the 2026 season. With a full 40-man roster already in place, the Yankees will need to make a transaction to add Grichuk before the team’s first game on Wednesday. Grichuk, who signed a minor league deal last month, will earn a $2.5 million salary in 2026. As an Article XX(B) free agent, his contract included three opt-out clauses. The first opt-out was set for this weekend, but the Yankees avoided the potential loss by adding him to the 26-man roster. This move ensures Grichuk remains with the team despite his limited role. The Yankees’ starting outfield will consist of Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger. Grichuk and utilityman Amed Rosario will serve as backup options. While Giancarlo Stanton may see some time in the outfield, he is expected to primarily function as a designated hitter. Fans may express disappointment over Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones being sent to Triple-A, as the team prioritizes their development over Grichuk’s sporadic playing time. Grichuk, a right-handed hitter, is likely to see most of his action when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound. His performance against right-handed pitchers has declined over the years, but he remains a threat against left-handed hitters. Last season, he posted a .227/.273/.430 slash line in 183 plate appearances against lefties while playing for the Diamondbacks and Royals. During spring training, Grichuk struggled with a .#diamondbacks #new_york_yankees #aaron_boone #randal_grichuk #greg_joyce
Druw Jones rips RBI double in World Baseball Classic, father celebrates in dugout Diamondbacks outfielder prospect Druw Jones made an immediate impact in the World Baseball Classic, hitting an RBI double in the Netherlands’ opening Pool D game against Venezuela. His father, Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, watched from the dugout, marking the first time a father-son duo has ever been a manager-player pair in the tournament’s history. The younger Jones, 22, is representing the Netherlands for the first time in his career, while his father, who hails from Curacao—a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands—makes his managerial debut. Druw shared that his father had already secured his place on the roster when he learned he would be managing. “He was like, ‘Hey, man, if you’re going to be able to play, we’re going to have you on the roster,’” Druw said. “Of course I’m going to accept. Just had to wait on the team’s approval, and they were all backing it 100 percent.” In the second inning of the Netherlands’ game against Venezuela, Jones grounded a sinker up the middle and hustled to second base for an RBI double, scoring the team’s first run of the tournament. His performance was highlighted by social media, with tweets from the World Baseball Classic and MLB celebrating the moment. Jones also contributed another RBI in his third at-bat with a sacrifice fly that scored Didi Gregorius. Despite striking out in his second plate appearance, his offensive output showcased his growing impact. The younger Jones, known for his defensive prowess, was recently named Minor League Defensive Player of the Year and has been a Gold Glove recipient in the minors. In spring training games with the Diamondbacks, Jones has slashed .333/.333/.500 with two doubles in 12 plate appearances.#andruw_jones #curacao #world_baseball_classic #druw_jones #diamondbacks
