BALTIMORE — Jazz Chisholm Jr. hasn’t been shy about his desire to remain in pinstripes.
The 27-year-old loves life with the Yankees so much that he’s willing to pass up his first shot at free agency. Scheduled to hit the open market after the 2026 season, Chisholm would rather sign an extension this offseason.
“I’ve already expressed how much I would want to be a Yankee for the rest of my career. At the end of the day, that’s what I want to do and hope to do,” said Chisholm, who just became the third Bomber to record a 30-30 season. “I want to be a Yankee, so I would definitely rather just re-sign with the Yankees. Obviously, it’s not my decision at that point.”
Chisholm told the Daily News that he and his agent had brief chats with the Yankees about an extension at various points this season, including when he moved from second base to third base at the end of May and after the All-Star Game, which he played in.
“Nothing substantial,” Chisholm said.
In Chisholm’s perfect world, those conversations will be revisited in a more serious manner after the Yankees’ expected playoff run. Doing so could get the team a deal, as Chisholm said he is open to signing at a bit of a discounted rate if it keeps him in New York.
“If they come close to the number, yeah, for sure,” Chisholm said, though he didn’t want to reveal any target figures. “I’m really more focused on playing right now, and I feel like that’s why we haven’t really talked about it.”
Acquired from the Marlins two Julys ago, Chisholm has enjoyed the best stretch of his career since becoming a Yankee. Not only did he join Bobby Bonds and Alfonso Soriano in the team’s 30-30 club on Friday, but he also hit 40 home runs and stole 48 bases over his first 162 games with the Yankees.
Chisholm entered Sunday’s game against the Orioles hitting .242 with an .813 OPS, 30 home runs, 78 RBI, 30 stolen bases and a 126 wRC+ overall, making him one of the best offensive second basemen — he returned to the position in July — in baseball this season. Chisholm also ranked third among all second basemen (minimum 700 innings) with eight Outs Above Average, though his 10 errors were tied for most at the position.
“I feel like it’s boosted my career in 100 percent of different ways,” Chisholm said Friday of playing for the Yankees. “Just the winning mentality, the winning atmosphere, the way everybody in the front office to the training staff wants to win. It’s how I felt like I grew up playing baseball and what I needed to be around to be even more successful.”
Aaron Boone agreed with that, saying the “heightened” expectations that come with Bronx baseball have brought out the best in Chisholm. However, the manager added that the Yankees’ collective embrace of the colorful character has also aided Chisholm after he clashed with teammates in Miami, most notably Miguel Rojas.
“I would think it’s helped a lot,” Boone said. “I hope that would be the case. We try, as much as we can, to allow people to come in and be themselves and try to get people to be the best version of themselves. He’s come in and obviously been super productive.”
Whether that production continues in New York beyond 2026 remains to be seen, as the Yankees have generally avoided extensions. Aaron Hicks and Luis Severino are recent — and discouraging — exceptions.
Chisholm hopes to be a better exception, as he believes he can make a difference on and off the field in New York for the foreseeable future. While his game has certainly benefited from playing for the Yankees, he also mentioned that he’s found a sense of community in the area while discussing why he wants to stay put so badly.
“[New York] brings out the inner me. I feel like a lot of people in New York are just like me, and I feel like I bond with them a lot, especially the kids from the projects,” Chisholm said, noting the work he does with local Little Leagues and the baseball camps he’s hosted. “I just feel like it uplifts my spirits.
“The impact I’ve had in New York so far, I definitely want to stay in New York.”
