Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. enters free agency amid exit predictions
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The gist
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is a free agent after a 2026 dip to a .711 OPS.
Analysts predict he leaves New York, with Texas floated at three years, $70 million.
Background
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is a 28-year-old second baseman for the New York Yankees, a two-time All-Star and 2025 Silver Slugger. He broke out in 2025 with an .813 OPS and 31 homers in 130 games, then slipped in 2026 to a .231/.312/.399 line with 19 homers over 137 games. He is the only hitter in this winter's free-agent class to post at least 3.0 fWAR (wins above replacement, a single-number value metric) in each of the last three seasons. His market is moving now because free agents are expected to sign quickly before the league shuts down on Dec. 1.
How it unfolded
- Oct 8, 2026After the Yankees were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League playoffs, Chisholm said he didn't understand why fans booed him but wanted to return.
- Oct 11, 2026An MLB.com free-agency profile listed his 2026 line: 137 games, .231/.312/.399, 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 3.5 fWAR.
- Oct 17, 2026A report framed him as hitting the open market this offseason, with his Yankees return an open question.
- Oct 24, 2026Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley predicted the Yankees will let Chisholm go, to an AL rival.
- Nov 4, 2026Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly predicted a three-year, $70 million deal with the Texas Rangers, with player opt-outs after 2027 and 2028.
- Nov 5, 2026FOX Sports listed the Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds and others as best fits if he leaves the Yankees.
- Nov 6, 2026Just Baseball named the Los Angeles Angels a top landing spot, citing their .620 OPS at second base (last in the AL) and interim GM John Mozeliak saying Mike Trout will move to left field in 2027.
Key terms
- OPS
- A baseball statistic equal to a player's on-base percentage plus slugging percentage, measuring both getting on base and hitting for power.
- Silver Slugger
- An annual Major League Baseball award given to the best offensive player at each position in each league.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley predicted the Yankees will let Chisholm go to an AL rival.
- Analysts
- Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly projected a three-year, $70 million Rangers deal with player opt-outs after 2027 and 2028.
- Analysts
- Just Baseball named the Angels a top fit, pointing to their AL-worst .620 OPS at second base and Mike Trout's 2027 move to left field.
- Public
- Chisholm said Yankees fans booing him in the playoffs was confusing, adding, "we're trying to win games."
Still unverified
All landing-spot reports are predictions, not signed deals; the Rangers, Padres, Tigers, Angels and Reds are among speculated destinations.