SAN DIEGO — Maybe someday this season, the Yankees will finally have to make the most difficult roster decision themselves because they are at or near full health. 

But yet again, a looming decision was made for them Saturday, in more ways than one. 

Trent Grisham landed back on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain after getting hurt in Friday’s loss to the Padres. It is the same injury that cost him three weeks in June, and while he said Friday night it was in a different spot, it remains to be seen whether he has a chance to get back before the regular season ends in three weeks. 

“I think it’s too early to know,” manager Aaron Boone said Saturday before continuing the series at Petco Park. 

The Yankees called up Jasson Domínguez to take Grisham’s roster spot, though that likely is just a stopgap until Aaron Judge returns from his own injury, perhaps as soon as this upcoming homestand. 

New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) catches a ball hit by Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) in the third inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The more significant fallout from Grisham’s IL stint is that the Yankees will no longer have to make a hard decision about how to open a roster spot once Judge returns — their potential options would have included sending Spencer Jones to Triple-A or designating Amed Rosario for assignment — or who should start in center field between Grisham and Jones. 

It is now Jones’ show in center field, or at least will be most of the time, as the Yankees could shift Cody Bellinger there on occasion to get Heliot Ramos in the lineup against lefties. 

In the meantime, Grisham did some light agility drills Saturday afternoon and was set to undergo imaging either later Saturday or Monday when the Yankees get back to New York. But they knew it was significant enough for an IL stint regardless of what the MRI shows. 

“Feels like he felt a little bit better today than when he did it a couple months ago,” Boone said. “Different spot. So we’ll see.” 

New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) is tagged out by San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) as he tries to steal second bas during the second inning at Petco Park on Sept. 4, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Grisham, who is nearing the end of his one-year, $22.025 million contract after coming back on the qualifying offer, had been scuffling of late. He was batting 4-for-44 (.091) with a .414 OPS over his last 14 games — leaving him at .211 with a .703 OPS across 121 games this season — and his defensive metrics in center were among the worst in the majors. 

Jones, meanwhile, has been surging — including a 10th-inning, go-ahead hit off Padres closer Mason Miller on Friday night — which had him batting .315 with a .930 OPS over his last 17 games. He is by no means a Gold Glove outfielder, and he has struggled some with his reads, but has the athleticism and foot speed to make up for it and cover more ground in center. 

“I think he’s done a good job,” Boone said. “That’s an area of his game where I feel like there’s still a lot of room for improvement. But I think overall, he’s done a good job, especially as much as I’ve bounced him around in different spots. I feel like he’s more than held his own. His work’s been really good. If he can have regular run now in center, hopefully — because obviously he has the speed — but it’s continuing to get more consistent with his routes and jumps.” 

This is just the latest example this season of the Yankees nearing a roster crunch or tough lineup decision before an injury settles it for them. There was Giancarlo Stanton twice being on the verge of a return from a calf strain before suffering setbacks both times, with Jones being a beneficiary in staying on the roster. There was Max Fried landing on the IL in May before Gerrit Cole returned, allowing Will Warren and Ryan Weathers to remain in the rotation. And then there was Weathers getting hurt before Fried returned from his second IL stint, among others.