PHOENIX — The New York Yankees face complex decisions regarding their playoff roster as injuries continue to impact key players in the final week of the regular season.

Outfielder Trent Grisham remains on the injured list with a hamstring strain and is unlikely to appear again before the playoffs. Manager Aaron Boone indicated on Sunday that while Grisham is progressing, the team does not plan to activate him in the regular season due to both his ongoing recovery and strategic considerations for the postseason roster. Activating Grisham would require the Yankees to either option another player to Triple-A or designate someone for assignment, moves that could limit roster flexibility during the American League wild-card series and potentially the Division Series.

Grisham has been sidelined for over three weeks, during which Spencer Jones has assumed center field duties and performed well, particularly against left-handed pitchers. Boone and the team are weighing whether to include Grisham on the playoff roster as a starting center fielder against right-handed pitching, with Jones shifting to right field, or to use Grisham primarily as a left-handed pinch hitter off the bench.

Meanwhile, Bo Bichette Chisholm is “in play” to return for the Yankees’ upcoming doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. His potential activation poses questions about the role of Anthony Volpe, who has impressed at second base since being promoted from Triple-A as Chisholm’s injury replacement. Boone acknowledged this situation but did not disclose how playing time might be allocated between the two players.

Adding to the Yankees’ challenges, star outfielder Aaron Judge is trending toward missing the wild-card series, complicating the outfield mix further.

As the postseason approaches, the Yankees must balance player health, roster constraints, and lineup effectiveness, all while navigating a competitive playoff landscape.