The New York Yankees are in win-now mode, but the team could make a surprising decision on a star infielder.
New York is off to a good start, but second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has struggled offensively. Chisholm is a pending free agent, and ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney believes the Yankees could look to trade him before the deadline.
“I’m going to be really curious to see what happens with Jazz here over the next two and a half months,” Olney said. “At some point, especially because they don’t have a future tied to him, this is not a second-year player where he’s going to be under team control the next four years. And you’re maybe going to have more patience, as they did with (Anthony) Volpe. He’s a free agent at year’s end. At some point, they are going to need better production at that position, and I’m sure they’re going to be market opportunities for trades or eternally.”
If the Yankees do opt to trade Chisholm, it could be for some relief help or some prospects to recoup the farm system. New York could easily slide Volpe to second base or promote George Lombard Jr. to play second and replace Chisholm.
Chisholm is hitting .217 with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs this season.
Chisholm Focused on Helping Yankees
Entering the season, Chisholm had claimed he wanted a lucrative contract and planned to earn it with his play.
However, Chisholm has struggled this season, and he said earlier this week that he just wants to help the team win and his focused on turning his season around.
“Right now, all I want to do is help my team win,” Chisholm said Tuesday. “And when you feel like you’re not doing that and you’re not helping, especially with the bat, that’s just how you feel. You feel like it sucks.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, meanwhile, knows Chisholm and some other offensive players need to be better.
“Overall, we’ve had a good offense, but we’ve got to get some more guys contributing regularly,” Boone said. “You see it around the league. There are a lot of really good players out there scuffling to this point. It’s part of it. We’ve had some guys flash it and start to pull themselves out a little bit, but obviously, looking for a little more consistency.”
Chisholm is a two-time MLB All-Star.
Chisholm Looking for Stunning Contract
With Chisholm set to be a free agent, he’s looking to cash in this offseason.
The star second baseman said in spring training that he’s looking for an 8-to-10 year deal at $35 million per season.
“I’d say no because I know I can get $35 million somewhere else. That’s $10 million less a year. … I’m 28. I want 8-to-10 years,” Chisholm said to NJ.com.
It’s a stunning contract ask, and how Chisholm’s season has started, it seems unlikely he will be able to get that. But, if Chisholm can turn his season around, perhaps he can get a long-term deal, but likely less AAV.
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