NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm Jr. wants another season in pinstripes. His final appearance of 2026 left the Yankees with questions about his performance, his place in the lineup and a relationship with fans that grew more strained during their playoff exit.
Chisholm heard boos after a seventh-inning pinch-hit popup Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees lost 4-3 to Tampa Bay, completing an American League Division Series sweep. He finished the elimination game 0 for 2 with a stolen base after starting on the bench.
The 28-year-old second baseman enters free agency following a season that fell short of his spring ambitions. He had predicted 50 home runs and 50 steals. He finished with 19 homers, 41 steals and a .231 batting average in 137 games.
His October ended with Anthony Volpe starting ahead of him, even against Rays right-hander Nick Martinez. That decision added another question to a Yankees offseason already complicated by Chisholm’s approaching departure from club control.
A benching adds to Yankees’ questions
Aaron Boone said before Game 3 that he had not spoken with Chisholm about the lineup change. The infielder later said he learned of it from the lineup card and would have preferred a conversation.
That differed from the communication before the wild-card opener against Boston, when Boone explained Chisholm’s omission against left-hander Payton Tolle. The Yankees manager had emphasized that the second baseman could still receive a pivotal at-bat off the bench.
The latest benching followed a costly throwing error in Game 2. The Yankees infielder subsequently said he would attempt the play again. Boone defended the meaning of those remarks while acknowledging that Chisholm should have held the ball.
The infielder’s future now involves more than one lineup decision. The Yankees must assess his production and contract value alongside the mistakes that marked his finish. He hit .182 across four postseason appearances, leaving little October success to offset his uneven regular season.
Rizzo challenges Chisholm’s reaction to boos
Former Yankees teammate Anthony Rizzo added a public rebuke Thursday. On “Ross and Rizzo Unfiltered,” he questioned Chisholm’s explanation of why the crowd’s reaction puzzled him.
“Jazz’s comments after the game just looks like a player who is lost,” Rizzo said.
Rizzo pointed to the boos other Yankees players had received, including Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. He argued that Chisholm should have understood that scrutiny by now.
“It surprises you that you got booed? That’s just not the right way to answer questions,” Rizzo said.
Rizzo had also criticized Chisholm’s conduct following a June ejection in Boston. That incident forced Volpe into action unexpectedly and prompted him to apologize to teammates.
Chisholm’s postgame explanation, however, included an acknowledgment that even Judge had faced similar treatment. He said his concern was the effect of booing during a game the Yankees were still trying to win.
“It doesn’t hurt, it’s just confusing because it’s the playoffs and we’re trying to win games. So you’re booing a guy that’s playing currently trying to help the team win,” Chisholm said.
His remarks did not claim immunity from criticism. Rizzo nevertheless considered the response inappropriate, extending the dispute beyond the clubhouse and into the Yankees’ offseason debate.
Chisholm gains steals as home runs fall
Comparing Chisholm’s two full Yankees seasons shows why his evaluation is complicated. His stolen bases rose from 31 in 2025 to 41 in 2026, while his home runs fell from 31 to 19.
Those totals represent 10 additional steals and 12 fewer homers. The improvement on the bases accompanied a substantial loss of power, leaving the Yankees to evaluate two sharply different trends within the same player’s production.
His 2026 batting line was .231/.312/.399, with 55 RBIs. He also missed time with a September thumb sprain. His 2025 season had brought an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger award.
Broadcaster Michael Kay questioned the fit while recognizing Chisholm’s talent. Speaking on his radio show, Kay framed the issue as compatibility with New York.
“I’m not sure if it’s a perfect fit here,” Kay said.
A reader poll published after elimination found 91% of participating voters favored moving on from Chisholm. That was a self-selected audience, not a representative survey of Yankees fans. It nevertheless documented dissatisfaction among those who chose to participate.
In that same poll, 79% supported retaining Volpe, the player who replaced Chisholm in the starting lineup for the elimination game. The contrast measures the respondents’ preferences. It does not establish how the Yankees will configure second base next season.
Chisholm wants to return as contract questions grow
The financial decision carries a substantial price. Joel Sherman reported that this winter’s qualifying offer will be $23.15 million, updating earlier estimates near $23.1 million. Spotrac lists Chisholm’s 2026 salary at $10.2 million.
A qualifying offer would therefore exceed his current salary by $12.95 million. The Yankees’ decision remains distinct from predictions linking him to another club, including Seattle. Those forecasts do not establish negotiations or a completed agreement.
Erik Beaston identified the Mariners as a possible destination because of their offensive needs. That prediction preceded the Yankees’ elimination and Rizzo’s latest comments, so it cannot be treated as evidence that the criticism changed Chisholm’s market.
Chisholm expressed his preference after the Yankees’ elimination, leaving the next step with a club weighing whether to retain him.
“This is where I want to be,” Chisholm said.
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