Yankees Trade Rumor: Jazz Chisholm Jr. could be on the move after “lukewarm” contract talks, per insider

Jazz Chisholm Jr. will enter the final year of his contract in 2026, and the New York Yankees need to decide whether to keep him or trade him for great returns. The versatile infielder is coming off a great year in 2025, hitting 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases while hitting .242/.332/.481 with a .813 OPS.

On Wednesday's SNY Yankees, MLB insider Bryan Hoch shared his take on why the Yankees should trade him given the "lukewarm" contract talks.

"I'd be willing to trade Jazz Chisholm at the Winter Meetings because, as of right now, it seems like they're lukewarm about giving him a contract extension," Hoch said. "Dynamic player. But do the Yankees see him as their future at second base? And if not, he could probably bring a significant return here. He might be one of your best trade chips, and you can answer some other questions here.

Hoch added that the Yankees' decision will depend on whether they feel Chisholm Jr. will be good for the Yankees for four to five years, whether his personality suits the locker room.

Latest on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s contract talks with Yankees

According to CBS Sports, there are no active contract talks between Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Yankees, but that does not mean there will be none in the near future.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed as much, while adding that the franchise has left the door open for a "legitimate conversation about value."

"We have not had any conversations outside of, you know, he's looking forward to playing next year," Cashman said via SNY. "He loves playing here. If you want to have a legitimate conversation about value, open to a longer-term conversation as well. But that's the extent of it."

Meanwhile, Chisholm Jr. likes it here and would most probably like to return. However, the Yankees are not known for handing premature long-term contract extensions. They wait it out until the player becomes a free agent to understand their market value.

So there is also a possibility that a trade may not happen, as Chisholm Jr. is central to a lot of Yankees moving around in the infield. They may allow him to turn free agent and then be the best bidder.