New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is projected to land a six-year, $128 million contract in free agency, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden. The prediction drew immediate pushback from Yankees fans following the 28-year-old’s difficult 2026 season.
Bowden, a former general manager, included the projection in his annual set of predictions for pending free agents, with an opt-out after the second year. The deal would pay Jazz Chisholm Jr. roughly $21.3 million per season.
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He hit .231 with a .312 on-base percentage and a .399 slugging percentage in 2026, finishing with 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and a career-high 41 stolen bases in 137 games. Yankees fans on X were blunt in response, with one X user noting, “Nobody is giving him that deal.”
He said that while he likes the player, “it’s time that the Yankees move on from him,” speaking on Foul Territory. He added that there’s going to be a lot of teams interested in the 2B and the Yankees should explore their options.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. still recorded 3.5 fWAR and 15 outs above average at second base. However, manager Aaron Boone benched him for two postseason games, including the elimination loss. Unfortunately, the Yankees’ season ended with a three-game AL Division Series sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Potential Teams Jazz Chisholm Jr. Could Join During Off-Season
A couple of weeks ago, MLB insider Mark Feinsand listed a set of potential teams the New York Yankees 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. could join this offseason. Among potential teams, he included the Yankees, along with the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds.
MLB.com reported that the industry feeling is that the Yankees are prepared to go in another direction, with Luis Garcia Jr. and Anthony Volpe as in-house options at second base. The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner wrote it “would be surprising” if the club gave qualifying offers to both Chisholm and reliever David Bednar, calling Bednar the likelier candidate.
Detroit has an opening with Gleyber Torres headed to free agency again, and the Tigers could use Chisholm’s speed and left-handed bat. Toronto finished last in the majors in runs scored (648), and Ernie Clement’s combined OPS fell to .442 across August and September.
The Angels ranked 29th in runs (655) and last in OPS (.679), with a .620 OPS at second base that was the worst in the American League. San Diego needs left-handed power after slugging .384 from that side and could upgrade on Jake Cronenworth. Cincinnati received an MLB-low -0.7 rWAR from second base, per Bleacher Report, though its spending history points to a short-term deal at most.
Chisholm’s market will not fully form until free agency opens after the World Series, and the qualifying offer decision sits with the Yankees. A multiyear deal at Bowden’s price asks a club to bet on a bounce-back. A shorter prove-it contract is the alternative several analysts expect.
Edited by Kaushani Chatterjee
