The New York Yankees “have listened” to trade offers for All-Star second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The 27-year-old joined the 30-30 club last season and provided consistent results in the heart of New York’s lineup. That said, he’s also on an expiring contract.
The Yankees need to find creative ways to flesh out the lineup if Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman refuse to splurge in free agency. Chisholm has his fans and his detractors, but he’s one of the most entertaining players in the sport. He hammers right-handed pitching and he’s a malleable defender — most comfortable at second base, but with experience at third base and centerfield. The Yankees can trade Chisholm for prospects and depth, or they can attempt to scale up to an even bigger star. Here’s how it might look.
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
New York YankeesThe Cincinnati Reds are in the market for a bat to upgrade the middle of the lineup. Kyle Schwarber talks fell through, but the Reds reportedly put a five-year, $125 million offer on the table — a sign that this front office, with Terry Francona leading the clubhouse, might be willing to spend more than usual.
Does that mean Cincinnati will put real assets on the line for a rental? Maybe not. But Chisholm is only 27 and $25 million AAV — with a few more years tacked on — could be enough to keep the Reds competitive in future free agent negotiations.
Chisholm finished last season with an .813 OPS and 125 OPS+, tallying 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases. He’s a plus defender at second base, if occasionally lax in his fundamentals. Matt McLain put up huge numbers as a rookie in 2023 (.864 OPS and 16 home runs in 89 games), but he missed all of 2024 and struggled immensely in his return last season (.643 OPS). He’s only 26 and under club control through 2029, so the Yankees have ample time to get McLain back up to speed, literally and figuratively.
Toss in an MLB-ready, back-end starter type in Julian Aguiar, who made seven starts for Cincinnati in 2024, and the Yankees at least need to consider the upside.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh PiratesNew York YankeesNick Yorke was once considered a top prospect in the Red Sox pipeline before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ill-fated Quinn Priester trade. Still 23, Yorke put up muted MLB numbers last season — .583 OPS in 69 at-bats — but he looked much better with Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates’ player development system, especially for hitters, is a real crapshoot. Yorke could benefit immensely from a change of scenery. Plus, he’s still pre-arbitration, so the window of control is vast.
The Yankees also address their flimsy rotation depth, as Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodón will all begin 2026 on the IL. Hunter Barco, 24, is a southpaw with a legitimate three-pitch mix. He blends a sinking fastball with a nifty slider (his best pitch) and a recently adopted splitter. He made a couple appearances out of the Pirates’ bullpen last season and could transition back into a starting gig with the Yankees.
Thomas Harrington, 24, is a righty with a solid fastball and four viable off-speed offerings, headlined by a sweeper that melts out of the zone and generates healthy swing-and-miss results. He gave up 18 hits and seven walks in 8.2 innings with the Pirates last season, but there’s reason for long-term optimism — if not as a back-end starter, then as a middle reliever as his command improves.
The Pirates, meanwhile, recover from their Kyle Schwarber whiff by adding the impact bat their lineup so desperately needs. Rentals are especially dangerous in a market like Pittsburgh, but if the front office is finally committed to building a winner around Paul Skenes, it’s clear they can afford to extend Chisholm. Never say never.
Philadelphia Phillies
Leave a Reply