It’s an absolute mess for the New York Yankees this offseason, and right at the top of the drama pile is Jazz Chisholm Jr. The second baseman is hitting free agency, and while he absolutely wants to stay with the Yanks, his brutal performance in the playoffs last year is making things super complicated. This dude was an All-Star in 2025, his second time no less, but then he had a down year at the plate. And when it mattered most? Total struggle city, both offensively and defensively, in his four playoff appearances. You gotta wonder what’s going on there.
Playoff Woes and a Yankees Legend’s Plea
Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t even start Chisholm in two postseason games, including their season-ending loss. Ouch. And the fans? Man, they let him have it. He fouled out to first as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and Yankee Stadium booed him right off the field. That’s rough, especially when the guy says he’d “rather continue his career with the Yankees than exit in free agency,” as reported by MLB Trade Rumors’ Connor Byrne. But here’s the kicker: this isn’t the first time Chisholm’s focus has been questioned. Bob Klapisch of NJ.com dropped a bomb, reminding everyone that when Jazz was with the Miami Marlins, actual Yankees legends Derek Jeter (who was an owner there) and Don Mattingly (the manager) had to step in. Klapisch wrote that “They both met with Chisholm on repeated occasions and begged him to get his head straight.” Begged him! That’s a wild anecdote to resurface heading into free agency, isn’t it?
Enter Brandon Lowe: A $24M Answer?
So, what’s next? Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley is calling it: he thinks the Yankees are going to sign Brandon Lowe instead of bringing back Chisholm. And honestly, it makes a ton of sense when you look at the facts. Lowe just finished up a $24 million contract, and he’s been way more consistent at the plate than Chisholm. Plus, the guy tends to be “less vocal when dissatisfied,” which could be a huge win for a team like the Yankees. Lowe isn’t just a bat, either; he’s a solid defender who’s even been a finalist for a Gold Glove Award. Buckley’s prediction hints that even with the Pirates (who won 82 games, their most since 2018) potentially looking to spend, Lowe’s contract might be too rich for them. That could leave a major-market big-spender like the Yankees with a clear shot to grab him and fill that second base spot. It really sounds like the Yankees could gain a ton by bringing Lowe into the fold this offseason.
This whole offseason drama is just getting started, but if Buckley’s prediction holds, the Yankees could be looking at a serious upgrade at second base. It’s going to be wild to see if they pull the trigger and bring in a consistent bat and a Gold Glove finalist to replace a player who clearly wants to be there, but might just be too much of a headache.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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