During his virtual cameo at the GM Meetings, Brian Cashman told members of the press that his decision to extend a $22 million, one-year qualifying offer to Trent Grisham would not impact the Yankees' pursuit of Cody Bellinger, who is poised to be the second-most chased outfielder on the free agent market this offseason. When he said that, the commonly held viewpoint was that Grisham planned to decline the offer, as reported by Jon Heyman.
Cashman's boast that they'd soldier on in the Bellinger chase, independent of Grisham's choice, was an easy thing to say when it seemed like they'd never have to worry about that $22 million rock weighing down their payroll.