The New York Yankees are trying to defend their title as American League champions, but they may want to start considering their future as well. With young stars around the league agreeing to lucrative extensions, the Yankees may want to lock up Jazz Chisholm Jr.
In just the last month, Jackson Merrill, Kristian Campbell, Garrett Crochet and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have agreed to lucrative extensions. Chisholm will be a free agent in 2027, but FanSided’s Stephen Parello urged the Yankees to sign him to an extension before he hits free agency.
Chisholm is not the typical Yankee. He is more outspoken and puts his personality on full display, unlike other stars of the franchise’s history. However, he does not let that get in the way of the product he puts on the field and is seemingly not a problem in the clubhouse.
“Don’t confuse outspoken with selfish, because the 27-year-old Chisholm is anything but,” wrote Parello. “A natural second baseman, he was moved to center field by the floundering Fish in Miami prior to his trade to the Yankees. Once in the Bronx, Jazz switched positions once again so that the incumbent, a drastically inferior defensive second baseman in Gleyber Torres, wouldn’t be inconvenienced. Now playing his natural position at the keystone, the Yankees are enjoying having a player in their lineup with the most electric power-speed combo they’ve had since Alfonso Soriano’s first tour of duty with the club. Unlike Soriano, Chisholm can actually play a rock-solid second base as well.”
Last season Chisholm played in a career high 147 games between the Yankees and Miami Marlins. He stole 40 bases and hit 24 home runs. Both marks were better than his All-Star 2022 season. He is off to a strong start to the season with four home runs and nine RBIs, but extending him does not come without risk.
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“The biggest real concern is Chisholm’s young career has been his ability to stay on the field,” wrote Parello. “While he played 147 games between Miami and New York last season, his previous career high was 124 back in 2021. He followed that up with just 60 games played in 2022 and 97 in 2023, as a variety of ailments and setbacks plagued him.”
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