This has been an unusual offseason for the New York Yankees, to say the least. No real movement from the Bronx Bombers by way of outward additions. The Yankees have made minimal moves, and all have been returning players from the 2025 roster. There have been no major moves (neither via free agent signing or trade) to this point by the Yanks front office. However, there has been a lot of chatter about players. Most notably for the Yankees the dialogue seems to focus on Jazz Chisholm Jr. So let’s try and make some sense of the noise surrounding the Yankees’ second baseman.

TRADING JAZZ AWAY PRO #1: HIS TRADE VALUE IS HIGH

Jazz Chisholm Jr is coming off a very nice season for the New York Yankees. The 2025 campaign was arguably Jazz’s best season as a professional baseball player. Thus, it makes sense that his value would be at its highest to date. And the idea of moving on from or trading away a player would ideally be done at a time like the present, when his value is high, and the market is clamouring for such a talent. For the Yankees, moving on from Jazz Chisholm Jr at this time of the offseason would present them with an opportunity to gain ground once again in the division during this absolutely slow-moving and anemic marketplace.

The rest of the teams in the American League East have been somewhat active and busy this offseason. Toronto has acquired Dylan Cease to headline their rotation, and added Cody Ponce to the middle to back half of their rotation. And also added in Kazuma Okamoto, someone who fans and pundits speculated on as a potential target for the Yankees this offseason, to the offensive mix as well. Boston improved by adding two players from the St Louis Cardinals in Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras. The Baltimore Orioles added a ton of power to the lineup with Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso. And even the Tampa Bay Rays got into the mix and added Steven Matz and Cedric Mullins to their Major League roster. Meanwhile, New York has merely re-signed Ryan Yarbrough and Trent Grisham.

TRADING JAZZ AWAY CON #1: 30/30 PRODUCTION

The reason trading Jazz away would yield such a potentially positive result is due to the production from the 2025 season. Chisholm was a 30/30 player in 2025 with thirty-one home runs and thirty-one steals. Jazz is coming off of what is easily his best season as a professional baseball player, and because of that, trading him would be a mistake. There are very few second basemen better than Jazz in the game today. And one such player’s name (Ketel Marte) has already been removed from the market. Dwindling the options for yielding as positive a return as would be dealt away by moving Chisholm off the roster.

Examining the positive results that Jazz produced in 2025 should lead Yankee fans and, more importantly, the Yankees’ front office to potentially look to keep Jazz long-term in the Bronx. However, given the sometimes backwards way of thinking produced by the upper management in the Bronx, we may not see such an investment being made in the Bahamian player.

TRADING JAZZ AWAY PRO #2: FREE AGENT AFTER 2026

Another potentially positive reason to send Chisholm to the highest bidder is that Jazz will be a free agent after the 2026 campaign. If the Yankees aren’t trying to keep and sign Jazz to a long-term deal, which by all accounts doesn’t seem to be the case. Then the Yankees front office would seem to be better served to try and get the most for the quality second baseman. Trading away Jazz Chisholm Jr would give New York the opportunity to secure something more than just a compensation round draft pick for his serves, should Chisholm depart via free agency. New York hasn’t been one over the course of their history to sign their players to long-term contracts prior to reaching free agency. When examining the lack of conversation with Chisholm’s representatives thus far by New York’s front office, it would lead one to believe that Jazz will be heading to free agency. So if the Yankees don’t see an extended fit with Chisholm, then trading him away would be in New York’s best interest this offseason.

TRADING JAZZ AWAY CON #2: NO INTERNAL ALTERNATIVES

Another reason for the Yankees to avoid a potential trade of Jazz Chisholm Jr is because there are no true in-house candidates to replace him. The biggest downfall for the organization’s lack of an internal candidate is also due to the front office’s love affair with Anthony Volpe as their shortstop. While Volpe is not likely to return from injury until sometime in May, Volpe will likely be gifted his return at the position of shortstop, instead of what many fans and pundits believe is a more appropriate fit at second base. Also, as a part of dealing with the ramifications of Volpe’s injury, is that Jose Caballero and Oswaldo Cabrera will already be competing for the starting shortstop role. And while many would assume the “loser” of the shortstop competition could be the potential replacement for Jazz at second base, the reality would be that would leave the Yankees short for their already shortened bench.

TRADING JAZZ AWAY PRO #3: ALLOWS FRONT OFFICE TO MOVE VOLPE TO SECOND BASE

Now, this pro seems like an obvious contradiction to the last con, because Volpe would be a potential internal candidate for replacing Jazz. However, the feeling is that the front office has a love affair with Volpe as their shortstop, whether correct or incorrect. Moving on from Chisholm could be a catalyst for the change in position upon his return from injury. Anthony’s talent and skill level seems to be a better fit at second base as opposed to shortstop. Watching Anthony Volpe play defense at shortstop doesn’t seem like a natural fit. Anthony’s arm strength is and will likely continue to be a very serious question about his ability at the shortstop position. Also, another aspect of Volpe’s shortstop play that seems like an unnatural fit is the poor footwork and seeming lack of an internal clock when it comes to making plays. Volpe seems to rush during nearly every play at the position. Moving Anthony over to the second base position would afford the infielder to have more time to process and make plays. Thus, making second base feel like a more natural fit for Anthony. Yet, the fan base feels reluctant about this potential fit because of the front office’s feelings and strong outward stance about Anthony Volpe as the team’s everyday shortstop.

TRADING JAZZ AWAY CON #3: LOSING PERSONALITY & MUCH NEEDED ATHLETICISM

There’s little question that Jazz Chisholm Jr is an unbridled and dynamic personality. One can also add that Chisholm’s athleticism is matched by few players in Major League Baseball. And for the New York Yankees, for much of the last decade plus they have been a “station-to-station” team. Having Jazz Chisholm Jr on the roster gives the Yankees a player that can change the game without a home run swing. Chisholm is aggressive on the basepaths. Some may even call his baserunning style reckless. However, there’s no denying that when Jazz is standing on first or second base, the opposing team and pitcher is aware of his presence. That distraction can lead to many positive results for the New York Yankees. Yes, the Yanks currently still have Jose Caballero who can steal bases, while he’s playing regularly to start the season. But, following the return of Anthony Volpe, who doesn’t get on base enough to actually use the difference maker his legs can provide. Jazz Chisholm Jr becomes the main focal point for athleticism on the New York Yankees roster. Moving on from Jazz makes the moniker of the Bronx Bombers all the more real, and truly diminishes the way New York can navigate what will be a difficult time to start the 2026 campaign. And while Aaron Judge will get all of the focus, and rightfully so, Chisholm can provide a much needed distraction from the grind of the season, and from the focus in-game of the opposing team.

Trading Jazz could be seen as both beneficial and disastrous for the New York Yankees , depending on your preference and prerogative. However, there’s little question about the impact that could be made on the team no matter what the decision by Brian Cashman and the front office is for the Bahamian second baseman and the organization. So the question must be asked, “should the Yankees trade Jazz Chisholm Jr or should they keep him?” There may be more than one right answer, but there’s only one decision that can be made.