At the end of the day on Thursday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sat down for an interview, addressing various topics. However, the biggest revelation came when he disclosed that Jazz Chisholm Jr. was originally acquired to be the team’s second baseman.
Chisholm was the Yankees’ biggest trade deadline acquisition during the 2024 season. He began the year with the Miami Marlins before the Bronx Bombers sent three players to acquire the former All-Star. The 26-year-old quickly became a key part of the Yankees’ lineup, helping fuel their run to the World Series.
Cashman confirmed that his plan had always been to shift Gleyber Torres to third base for the remainder of the 2024 season, but manager Aaron Boone opted for a different approach.
“When I acquired Jazz, I acquired Jazz to be our second baseman and move Gleyber to third the rest of last year,” Cashman said on YES Network. “Boonie wanted to do it the other way. He moved Jazz to third after we got him and Gleyber to second because Gleyber didn’t want to move to third, (he) was unwilling.”
Chisholm had been the Marlins’ center fielder before transitioning to third base with the Yankees. However, he also has experience as an everyday second baseman, making Cashman’s revelation even more intriguing.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s impact on the Yankees
ESPN
Chisholm made an immediate impact in New York, playing 46 regular-season games after the trade. He slashed .273/.345/.480 with 11 home runs, 23 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and an .825 OPS. Over the full season, Chisholm set career highs across the board, recording 144 hits, 21 doubles, 24 home runs, 73 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, and 74 runs scored across 146 games. His 2.7 WAR highlighted his overall contributions.
One of his most electrifying performances came on July 30 against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he drove in five runs and blasted two home runs in a dramatic 7-6 extra-inning victory. It was his second consecutive multi-homer game, showing the kind of power and clutch ability the Yankees envisioned when they traded for him.
SI
Chisholm played in every postseason game for New York, slotting into the middle third of the lineup. Across 14 playoff games, he went 10-for-55 (.182) with two solo home runs and six stolen bases, proving to be a dynamic presence despite a lower batting average.
With 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt now securing first base, the Yankees have flexibility with Chisholm’s role. He could remain at third base or shift to second base, depending on how the rest of the roster shapes up.
Chisholm is under contract for two more years before hitting free agency and is expected to be a key part of the Yankees’ 2025 lineup.
What happened to Gleyber Torres?
Gleyber Torres once looked like a cornerstone of the Yankees’ future, blasting 38 home runs in 2019 and earning his second consecutive All-Star nod. At the time, few could have predicted he would later settle for a one-year deal with a low-payroll team upon reaching free agency.
Yet, that is exactly what happened. After years of inconsistency, Torres signed a $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers this past December.
His 2024 season continued his trend of up-and-down performances, but there is still hope for a rebound campaign. If Torres can rediscover the form that once made him an offensive force, he could position himself for a stronger free-agent market next offseason.
What do you think of Cashman’s comments and Chisholm’s role in 2025? Leave your thoughts below.
Amanda Paula is a sports writer with a passion for American football and a keen interest in the NY Yankees. Raised among Americans in Brazil, Mandy's unique cultural background has greatly influenced her career and provided her with a diverse perspective on the world of sports.
Born and raised in Brazil, Amanda developed a deep appreciation for sports at a young age. Growing up in a community with a robust American presence, she was exposed to various sports, but baseball captivated her heart. Inspired by the passion and tactics of the game, Amanda dedicated herself to studying and understanding the intricacies of the sport.
Amanda's love for American sports and soccer led her to pursue a career in sports journalism. She obtained a degree in journalism from a prestigious university, where she honed her skills in writing and reporting. Her studies gave her a solid foundation in journalism ethics, research methodologies, and effective storytelling techniques.
After completing her education, Amanda embarked on her professional journey as a sports writer. Her unique background as a Brazilian immersed in American culture gave her a fresh perspective on American sports.
I really think if the Yankees get out from under Stromans contract they will make a move on Alex Bregman. Why is he still available? Than Jazz can play second and that is a good defensive infield. Is bregman worth a 5-6 yr deal?
I like spending other people’s money, lol.
DJ LeMahieu, i think if they declare him 3rd baseman, he definitely has the tools to succeed. We should cheer for him like crazy whenever he gets up at bat- pump DJ up.
Bobblehead62
1 year ago
Cashman needs to let it rest. His comments, clearly a negative slight against Torres and possibly telling of a somewhat vindictive motive for so completely cutting ties with him once the season ended, were better left unsaid.
Bringing in Jazz mid-season with the expectation that Torres would immediately move to third is something that should have been worked out ahead of Jazz coming here. And if the decision-makers (Cashman and Boone) really wanted to move Torres to third, you would think it would have happened. I’m sure there’s nothing in Torres’s contract that says he can only play 2B, and to allow the final decision to rest with Torres seems somewhat akin to the tail wagging the dog. So maybe the real issue here exists between Cashman and Boone because Boone wanted to keep Torres at 2B? And maybe Boone wanted this because he believed it was better for overall team dynamics and not because he was simply letting a player play where he (the player) wanted?
If the idea was always one to have Jazz play 2B, and the intention was to have him there as early as the trade deadline last season, why have the Yankees been courting possible second basemen this offseason to fill their infield needs, a move which would inevitably keep Jazz at 3B? Fortunately for us, Jazz filled the role at 3B quite well, even though the position was not as familiar to him.
Maybe my comment of “courting possible second basemen this offseason” is a bit overstated. The Yankees have been connected with many potential second base alternatives this offseason (Arraez, Hoerner, Donovan, Kim, Rogers, Polanco, et al). If the Yankees are committed to playing Jazz at 2B, wouldn’t they only be looking at potential 3B replacements?
But I digress, and now I’m running my mouth even more than Cashman. So I’ll stop, just as he should have stopped, before ever taking a negative swipe at Torres.
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I really think if the Yankees get out from under Stromans contract they will make a move on Alex Bregman. Why is he still available? Than Jazz can play second and that is a good defensive infield. Is bregman worth a 5-6 yr deal?
I like spending other people’s money, lol.
DJ LeMahieu, i think if they declare him 3rd baseman, he definitely has the tools to succeed. We should cheer for him like crazy whenever he gets up at bat- pump DJ up.
Cashman needs to let it rest. His comments, clearly a negative slight against Torres and possibly telling of a somewhat vindictive motive for so completely cutting ties with him once the season ended, were better left unsaid.
Bringing in Jazz mid-season with the expectation that Torres would immediately move to third is something that should have been worked out ahead of Jazz coming here. And if the decision-makers (Cashman and Boone) really wanted to move Torres to third, you would think it would have happened. I’m sure there’s nothing in Torres’s contract that says he can only play 2B, and to allow the final decision to rest with Torres seems somewhat akin to the tail wagging the dog. So maybe the real issue here exists between Cashman and Boone because Boone wanted to keep Torres at 2B? And maybe Boone wanted this because he believed it was better for overall team dynamics and not because he was simply letting a player play where he (the player) wanted?
If the idea was always one to have Jazz play 2B, and the intention was to have him there as early as the trade deadline last season, why have the Yankees been courting possible second basemen this offseason to fill their infield needs, a move which would inevitably keep Jazz at 3B? Fortunately for us, Jazz filled the role at 3B quite well, even though the position was not as familiar to him.
Maybe my comment of “courting possible second basemen this offseason” is a bit overstated. The Yankees have been connected with many potential second base alternatives this offseason (Arraez, Hoerner, Donovan, Kim, Rogers, Polanco, et al). If the Yankees are committed to playing Jazz at 2B, wouldn’t they only be looking at potential 3B replacements?
But I digress, and now I’m running my mouth even more than Cashman. So I’ll stop, just as he should have stopped, before ever taking a negative swipe at Torres.