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Jazz Chisholm Jr. is set to hit free agency following a 2026 campaign with the New York Yankees that fell well short of his own expectations. His offensive numbers dipped across the board, and the timing couldn't be worse for a player entering the open market. The Yankees signaled they are prepared to move on by declining to extend a $23.15 million qualifying offer to the 28-year-old infielder, indicating they are unwilling to retain him at that salary.
Even so, Chisholm's overall performance decline may not deter teams looking to buy low on a talented player. Talking Baseball recently identified four potential landing spots: the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. These clubs might focus on his 3.5 fWAR—bolstered by strong defensive metrics and baserunning—rather than his drop in power, which saw his OPS fall from .813 with 31 home runs in 2025 to .711 with 19 homers in 2026. Chisholm also stole a career-high 41 bases and rated well in advanced defensive measures like Statcast's Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value. Contract projections suggest he could command around $90–110 million over three to four seasons, a price that could prove to be a bargain.
Why the Dodgers and Padres Make Sense
The Dodgers already boast a loaded roster and may not have an urgent need for Chisholm's services. Tommy Edman is under contract for four more years at approximately $47.5 million, and the lineup leans heavily left-handed, with four primary starters and top prospect Josue de Paula all swinging from the left side. Adding another lefty bat might not be ideal, especially with Teoscar Hernández's power in decline. However, Chisholm would inject youth, speed, and range into an aging veteran core. Even in a down offensive year, his 3.5 fWAR would have ranked fifth among Dodgers position players last season, far outpacing Edman's 1.3 fWAR in 84 games. Since 2026 was Chisholm's worst power season since his brief 2020 rookie campaign, positive regression could push him back toward a 4 fWAR level for at least the first few years of his next contract.
For the Padres, second base has been manned by Jake Cronenworth since his breakout in 2026, and he remains under contract for four more seasons at $12.3 million annually. However, Cronenworth's poor 2026 campaign—a .629 OPS and 0.2 fWAR in 109 games—makes him nearly untradeable and a replacement-level contributor. Chisholm would represent a significant upgrade, especially as Cronenworth turns 33 before next season. Chisholm's potential for offensive rebound, combined with his solid defense, baserunning, and electrifying style of play, makes him an exciting and impactful addition for San Diego—and a clear improvement over their current second baseman.
Originally reported by yahoo.