Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is one year away from free agency. He has expressed his desire to stay with the club via an extension. However, general manager Brian Cashman told Brendan Kuty of The Athletic at the general managers meetings this week that he has yet to approach Chisholm’s reps about extension talks.
“Not sure how that would play out,” Cashman said. “But we have not had any conversations outside of he’s looking forward to playing next year, he loves playing here, and, if we’re open (to), if you want to have a legitimate conversation about value, (he’s) open to a longer-term conversation as well.”
The Yankees don’t do many extensions in general. According to MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, which has data going back to the start of 2006, the Yankees have done six extensions in that almost-20-year time frame. There have been none since 2019, when they did three deals for Luis Severino, Aaron Hicks and Aroldis Chapman. None of those three deals worked out especially well for the club, so it’s perhaps not surprising that they haven’t gone back to that well.
Chisholm is coming off a good season. His 27.9% strikeout rate was on the high side but he increased his walk rate to 10.9%, the best of his career. He also hit 31 home runs and stole 31 bases. His .242/.332/.481 batting line translated to a 126 wRC+. His third base defense wasn’t strong but the Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon and moved Chisholm to second, where he graded out better. Put it all together and FanGraphs credited him with 4.4 wins above replacement.
It’s possible the Yankees are content to let Chisholm play his final arbitration season, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a $10.2MM salary, and then let him walk. Assuming he has another season like he did in 2025, he would easily turn down a qualifying offer in search of a strong multi-year pact beginning with his age-29 season.
By that time, it’s possible that prospect George Lombard Jr. has arrived and pushed his way into the middle infield conversation. Lombard, 21 in June, was the club’s first-round pick in 2023. He has been climbing the minor league ladder and reached Double-A in May. He got into 108 games at that level this year and should reach Triple-A in 2026, maybe even right out of camp. He only hit eight home runs and had just a .215 batting average at that level, but he drew walks at a strong 13.6% clip. His .215/.337/.358 line translated to a 111 wRC+.
Though that offense isn’t overwhelming, Lombard was young for the level. He’s still regarded by most outlets as one of the top 50 prospects in the league. His defense is considered strong enough for him to stick at shortstop. Per Kuty, Cashman said this week that Lombard could reach the majors in 2026 but 2027 is more likely. “Defensively, he’s ready to go,” the GM said. “And offensively, it looks like he needs more time, and we’re looking to drive that time and those reps. So I wouldn’t think ’26 is on the horizon, but I wouldn’t (rule out) ’26 at the same time.”
The Yankees can control Anthony Volpe via arbitration through 2028 and José Caballero through 2029. Perhaps they feel that Chisholm’s departure and Lombard’s arrival can sync up fairly nicely so that the middle infield can be addressed internally, allowing them to commit their resources towards pitching or the outfield. Then again, it’s also possible they could circle back to Chisholm later, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Volpe’s shoulder injury and poor performance in 2025. The most common time for extension talks is in the spring, after a club has spent the offseason focusing on external additions.
As for Ben Rice, his fit isn’t locked down but he’ll be in there one way or another. As relayed by Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Cashman didn’t firmly declare whether Rice would be catching or at first base, but he said first base was more likely. One way or another, Cashman confirmed he would be be an everyday player.
That’s not surprising, as Rice hit 26 home runs this year, helping him produce a .255/.337/.499 slash line and 133 wRC+. He did a bit of catching but spent more time at first. With Paul Goldschmidt now a free agent, it’s possible Rice could just take up that spot on an everyday basis. Like most lefty hitters, he was better against righties in 2025, but his work against southpaws was passable. His batting average wasn’t great in the split but he hit seven homers in 119 plate appearances without the platoon advantage, leading to a .208/.271/.481 slash and 104 wRC+.
Phillips also notes that Cashman spoke of a desire to add a catcher who swings from the right side, since each of Austin Wells, Rice and J.C. Escarra are lefty bats. Cashman described the market as “very thin” but there are righty bats out there. J.T. Realmuto is too good for a short-side platoon job and the same is likely true of Victor Caratini, but guys like Danny Jansen, James McCann, Luke Maile, Mitch Garver and old friend Gary Sánchez are available.
Photo courtesy of Albert Cesare, Imagn Images
Volpe needs to produce on both sides to stay. He has talent, but may not fit the yankees for much longer. Jazz is obviously productive. Lombard could replace volpe
If Volpe can show some life next season, they can move him to 2B for ’27. While I really like Jazz and also what he brings publicly to a team devoid of personality, I don’t think they should extend him.
YBC, it’s what else “he brings” that worries me about him long term. Caballaro makes him needed for 26 with Volpe a question mark. In this case, I agree with Cashman about waiting until after next year with a new CBA and reassess.
@Yankees
I don’t understand your logic. If he performing at a Yankee high level (+4 WAR), wants to be here in NYC and had intangibles that fit the city and the clubhouse then scratch off that box and focus elsewhere. Imo Lombard has a long way to go and shouldn’t even be in our thoughts for 2026. I love his walk rate but he’s yet to hit above .215 at the AA level and struck out almost 150x last year. How does that project to be near ready for a 2026 debut? They did the same exact thing with Volpe and we see what’s happening. Volpe’s glove was ready but at age 22 and only 20 games at AAA, he obviously needed more seasonings. Extend Jazz and consider 2B filled. Give Volpe another year at SS with Caballero in the mix and let Lomvard start the season in AA. The only way he should sniff the majors in 2026 is if he completely dominates minor league pitching and makes it obvious he belongs in the major. Let’s not act lot you can’t like having too much talent is a problem.
Miguel Amaya for Fernando Cruz. Yankees probably don’t do that trade. I would.
Yankees hyping Lombard like they did can’t miss Volpe and Peraza. He’s 20 years old and career 236 hitter.
When your “untouchable” top prospect hits .215 in AA, maybe you should question why he is “untouchable” in the first place. I am not arguing that batting average is an important stat or anything, but I am arguing that it is much more difficult to hit in the majors than in AA. If you can only get to .215 in AA, I don’t think an AL batting title is ever going to be likely. He could end up being a solid regular, hope he is, but the level of “untouchable” prospects feels like it should be higher than simply a solid regular.
Most 20 y.o.’s are not playing at the AA level. He’s been clearly fast-tracked.
Agree YBC. While most teams overhype their own, the fact that he has already reached AA with no overhyping articles says it all to me. Most must believe in this kid.
He absolutely needs more time and needs to SHOW he deserves to be promoted to AAA rather than just rushed along like theres a timer in place. I don’t know how ammunition can think he should be on the squad in 2026
I want it both ways- extend jazz and find room for Lombard etc knowing Lombard isn’t as sure a thing as Jazz likely is.
Keep Jazz and play Lombard at 3B when McMahon contract is done