Fresh off facing heat for being open about his contract demands, New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. did his best to quiet the noise around him with one swing of the bat. 

Chisholm went yard on Thursday afternoon, hitting his first home run of the spring in the bottom of the first inning of the Yankees’ game against the Atlanta Braves. His home run was pulled high, but it managed to get over the short porch in right field. 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. could be one of the hottest free agents next year  

But in reality, nothing Chisholm, 28, does on the field will make anyone forget that his current contract ends after the upcoming 2026 season.

And if a new extension is not worked out, Chisholm will be able to test free agency for the first time in his six-year career.

He’s been traded twice already, including from the Miami Marlins to New York in July 2024. When asked if he would accept anything shy of $30 million, Chisholm offered a more honest response than most players would provide. 

“I’d say no because I know I can get $35 million somewhere else,” he said to Randy Miller of NJ.com. “That’s $10 million less a year. … I’m 28. I want 8-to-10 years.”

A lockout could throw a wrench into Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s plans 

To his credit, Chisholm’s assessment of the market is also probably accurate based on his production. The only caveat would be if the ongoing dispute between the players and owners over a potential salary cap forces a lockout ahead of the 2027 season after the existing collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026. 

Due to the uncertain times surrounding the future of the game, the Yankees may want to lock Chisholm up. Most expect contracts agreed to before a lockout would be grandfathered in. 

Either way, Chisholm’s value is at its highest point entering the 2026 season. He’s coming off his best year from a statistical and metric standpoint. 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. had his best overall season yet in 2025 

In 2025, the Bahamas-born Chisholm was named an All-Star for the second time in his career and first in the American League. While he only hit .242, lower than his career average of .248 and the .256 he posted in a 2024 split between both leagues, he also crushed a career-high 31 home runs, drove in a career-high 80 RBI and stole 31 bases, nine away from matching his 40 from the prior season. 

Chisholm registered a career-best OBP of .332 and a slug of .481, culminating in a 4.2 bWAR campaign, his first season surpassing a 3.0 bWAR. 

Helping lead to polarizing opinions among Yankees fans, Chisholm has struggled in the postseason, hitting .182 in October in both 2023 and 2024 for New York and holding a career .170 average when taking in three playoff games with the Marlins. So the more Chisholm produces, the more he may demand, creating a standstill between the Yankees and one of their key players.