NEW YORK — The Yankees watched another pitcher slip away. Tatsuya Imai signed with the Houston Astros on Thursday. The deal is worth up to $63 million over three years.
The Yankees were “not seriously involved” in the bidding, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The same day that news broke, another report emerged. The Yankees are fielding calls on Jazz Chisholm Jr.
The timing is not coincidental. The Yankees appear to be betting that trading their star second baseman will yield the rotation upgrade that signing Imai would have provided.
Chisholm suddenly available
Heyman reported that multiple teams have checked in on Chisholm. The two-time All-Star is entering his final year before free agency.
“The Yankees and Cubs are fielding inquiries on their star 2B who are free agents after 2026 (Jazz Chisholm and Nico Hoerner),” Heyman wrote.
General manager Brian Cashman confirmed the team’s openness to trade proposals. He told reporters the Yankees are “open-minded” about deals that could improve their pitching staff.
“He’s somebody who I think is currently part of the solution, someone who has made us better,” Cashman said of Chisholm. “He’s above average. He’s an All-Star second baseman; great defense, steals bags, power, all that stuff. He’s been a good get.”
Why the Yankees need pitching
The rotation is in trouble. Gerrit Cole is recovering from Tommy John surgery. He might not return until May or June. Carlos Rodon underwent an elbow procedure to remove loose bodies. Clarke Schmidt is out until after the All-Star break.
Max Fried anchors the staff. Behind him, the Yankees will rely on Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren. All three showed promise in 2025. None has established himself as a reliable number two starter.
Imai would have filled that void. His $18 million average annual value was reasonable. The three-year term limited risk. The Yankees let him go to a division rival without making a serious offer.
Trade packages that make sense
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report recently outlined several Chisholm trade scenarios. Each would bring pitching to the Bronx.
The Detroit Tigers emerged as a logical partner. Rymer proposed sending Chisholm to Detroit for Casey Mize and Troy Melton.
“Even as a one-for-one, Chisholm for Mize would be a fun baseball trade,” Rymer wrote. “The former No. 1 pick is also slated for the open market after 2026, and he is coming off an All-Star season in which he pitched like a solid No. 3.”
Mize posted a 3.87 ERA in 2025. Melton throws 100 mph and offers upside as a project arm. The Tigers need speed and power. Chisholm stole 31 bases last season. Detroit’s entire offense managed just 61.
Pirates and Brewers also fit
The Pittsburgh Pirates present another option. They need offense badly after finishing last in scoring and home runs in 2025. Chisholm brings 40-40 upside. He has 42 homers and 49 steals in 176 games since joining the Yankees.
Rymer suggested the Yankees could land Braxton Ashcraft and Termarr Johnson from Pittsburgh. Ashcraft projects as the Pirates’ number three starter behind Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller. He has a high-90s fastball that fits the Yankees’ pitching profile.
The Milwaukee Brewers offer another intriguing match. Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the Yankees are interested in Freddy Peralta. Getting him for Chisholm would be what Cashman calls a “challenge trade.”
Peralta is also a free agent after 2026. He is owed $8 million next season compared to a projected $10.2 million for Chisholm. The cash-strapped Brewers could use help with home runs. Their lineup got out-homered 6-to-1 in the NLCS sweep by the Dodgers.
Chisholm’s value is undeniable
Trading Chisholm is not an easy decision. He slashed .242/.332/.481 with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 2025. He joined Bobby Bonds and Alfonso Soriano as the only Yankees with a 30-30 season.
His defense silenced critics. He ranked in the 88th percentile for range at second base. His barrel rate sits in the 91st percentile. When he makes contact, the ball explodes off his bat.
Manager Aaron Boone addressed the trade rumors last month.
“I do expect him,” Boone said when asked if Chisholm will be on the roster in 2026. “But again, you never know what’s going to happen as teams are maneuvering their rosters and whatever. I do expect him, but you never know what’s going to happen where teams match up on certain things.”
The roster needs balance
Cashman has said the lineup is too left-handed. Chisholm is one of several lefty bats alongside Ryan McMahon, Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Austin Wells. Trading him would address that imbalance.
The Yankees could pivot to Bo Bichette in free agency if they move Chisholm. Bichette is a right-handed bat willing to play second base. He hit .311 with 18 home runs for the Blue Jays in 2025.
Skipping Imai looks like a choice, not a miss. The Yankees appear to believe that Chisholm can fetch a return that addresses multiple needs. They need pitching. They need right-handed hitting. They need to stay under budget.
A Chisholm trade could check all three boxes. The question is whether any team will offer a package good enough to make the Yankees pull the trigger.
What do you think?
