“Chisholm Jr. will likely need to sign a one-year prove it deal to regain his value,” Pat Ragazzo wrote on FanSided’s Rising Apple. “Chisholm Jr. is one year removed from posting a 30/30 season in 2025, and the Mets need a second baseman. It feels like they could be linked to Chisholm in free agency this offseason.”

Although Chisholm Jr. put MLB on notice with a “winning mindset” confession and made it clear his mind is fully set on winning the World Series with the Yankees, free agency is still knocking at his door whether he cares to look through the peephole or not. With the postseason looming, so is free agency, and that means rumors will only continue to grow louder.

Jazz could fit right in with NY Mets

When it comes to Chisholm’s future, a job with the cross-town neighbors could make sense. Staying in the Big Apple could be the perfect move for Chisholm Jr. It might come at the expense of how Yankees fans see him, but the 2026 MLB season has proven that many didn’t hesitate to be harsh critics of the former two-time All-Star.

Moreover, he could avoid switching addresses, only having to move his equipment from the clubhouse in the Bronx to the one in Queens. For the Mets, the move could also make sense, as they need a second baseman while they wait for former first-round pick in 2025 Mitch Voit, who also plays shortstop, to be Show-ready.

Needless to say, Chisholm Jr.’s arrival in Queens wouldn’t be like Juan Soto’s back in Dec. 2024 or even Luke Weaver’s signing last free agency. Coming off a head-scratching contract year in 2025, Jazz would have a lot to prove, and his contract will reflect those question marks surrounding him.

Chisholm finally meeting expectations

Regardless, the infielder, who will be 29 next season, has recently found his footing. It took a while, but the results are finally showing for him. Jazz’s hitting improved in August, as he finished the month with a .244 batting average and .703 OPS. He’s off to a hot start to September, too, with a .375 AVG and 1.194 OPS. The sample size is very small, but he is sending the right signals all the same.

If Chisholm can keep his recent performances up, he may enter free agency with a revamped stock. Moreover, if he can perform in the postseason, there’s reason to believe the Bronx Bombers may retain him, as long as Chisholm Jr. wants to stay on a pinstripes uniform.

Throughout the season, Chisholm Jr. has said so little about his plans for free agency that it’s virtually impossible to tell what he wants for his future. It appears he will cross that bridge when he gets to it, and by the time he becomes a UFA, he hopes his name tag also reads “World Series champion” next to it.

Chisholm Jr. has balled out in Queens

As much criticism as Chisholm’s 2026 MLB season can receive, his performances in Queens leave no room for complaints. The Yankees’ infielder put on a show during his visits to Citi Field, as he’s put up a .583 batting average and 1.417 OPS at that venue this year.

Although the Yankees dropped the road series against the Mets 2-1, Chisholm wasn’t to blame. He went 7-for-12 at the plate, recording three runs and driving in two more.

Perhaps in foreshadowing fashion, Citi Field has been where Chisholm Jr. has put up his best numbers on the season. Maybe it’s a sign of what stadium he should call home in MLB, or it may only be that Jazz is meant to torment the cross-Big Apple foes with the Bronx Bombers.

“It’s just a winning mindset,” Chisholm Jr. said about the Yankees’ mentality heading to the 2026 MLB postseason. “We are just out there trying to win games, make it to the World Series, and go win it.“

Chisholm Jr. has been very vocal about his plans to become a World Series champion in 2026. Throughout the MLB season, he’s said it repeatedly. It’s all he’s after, and a big reason why he is unfazed by the prospect of free agency and potentially losing his job in the Big Apple. Moreover, Jazz has found his footing as of late, and his at-bat production is now trending upwards.

Chisholm Jr.’s stats

So far in the 2026 MLB campaign, Chisholm Jr. has put up 67 runs, 104 hits, 19 home runs, and 55 RBIs. His slash-line includes a .232 average, .311 OBP, .408 SLG, and .719 OPS. These are all still the lowest of his career (not including his rookie year), but have been on the rise as of late.

Chisholm Jr. is coming off a strong production in August, and it might be perfect timing. In the past month, Chisholm Jr. slashed for a .244 batting average, .337 OBP, .366 SLG, and .703 OPS. Such numbers allowed Chisholm Jr. to take a victory lap and silence critics, which had been loud all year long in the Bronx.

If he can keep it up, he might avoid finishing with career-low numbers, and his stock would be on the rise heading to the open market. Regardless, that’s a problem for future Chisholm Jr. For the time being, all he cares is about finishing the year strong, carry his red-hot streak into the postseason, and help the Bronx Bombers achieve what they haven’t since 2009.

NY Yankees are on track

Holding a 79-60 record with 23 games left on the regular-season schedule, the Pinstripers would have to go off the tracks to miss the playoffs. As things stand, they hold a four-game lead over the Boston Red Sox and have the tiebreaker thanks to their winning head-to-head record.

New York is 4.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, who have won seven of their last 10 outings, meaning the AL East title is not out of reach, but it would take a big climb. Still, holding the first wild-card seed is far from the worst thing in the world.

All that matters is when the playoffs come around. Looking back, no one remembers which seed each team had when they made the playoffs; only those who hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy are immortalized.

“He needs to stay out of that and not be telling people to throw at players and injure players. That’s not what this game’s about,” Judge told reporters in Los Angeles, where he traveled with the team to continue his rehab progression with field work.

Life in a Yankees uniform comes with immediate scrutiny, and high-profile players often find themselves in the crosshairs when performing at an elite level. This time, Chisholm found himself squarely at the center of the noise.

Meanwhile, manager Aaron Boone provided an update on Judge’s rehab timeline. The Yankees expect their captain to return at full strength once cleared as they chase a World Series title.

What did Flemming say about Chisholm Jr.?

Analyzing New York’s dominant series performance against the Red Sox, Flemming made it clear he disapproved of how Chisholm handled himself on the field.

“Wouldn’t you sort of like to see Moran drill Wells right here? He’s a bush-league player. It’s not even a steal… That’s a selfish play. That’s just padding your stats. That’s who Jazz is. I’m gonna say it, he plays the game the wrong way,“ Flemming said during the broadcast.

Flemming subsequently issued a public apology to Chisholm and Yankees fans, acknowledging that his emotion got the better of him during the rivalry matchup. “My comments during yesterday’s broadcast crossed a line. I’m emotional and a fan at heart and that bled into the broadcast. I meant no disrespect to the Yankees players or organization,” Flemming said.

Chisholm Jr. weighs in on Flemming’s comments

The star infielder was initially unaware of the broadcast comments, telling reporters he only caught wind of the situation late. Chisholm brushed off the criticism, noting that he didn’t even know who Flemming was and certainly won’t remember him moving forward.

What were once considered excuses, Chisholm Jr. is proving were actually logical arguments. Finally, the ball is in agreement with him. Recently, Chisholm Jr. downplayed his rough year ahead of MLB free agency, and it looks like that mindset was the right one.

“I just feel like the results are now being shown,” Chisholm Jr. stated, via YES Network. “There were a lot of times this season I was hitting the ball hard and it wasn’t dropping. I just had to mentally learn how to let that go and build off of that. Instead of trying different stuff, just stick with it.”

Chisholm Jr. getting hot

His overall numbers for the 2026 MLB season are still nothing to write home about, and Chisholm Jr. knows it. However, he can’t change what’s done and must only focus on the road ahead. So far, so good. Jazz is now carrying a four-game hitting streak, one away from matching his season best, which he has accomplished twice already.

Over the last four games for the Yankees, Chisholm Jr. has gone 8-for-14 at the plate, including three runs, four RBIs, and a home run. This recent streak allowed Chisholm Jr. to improve his season batting average from .214 to .226. As for the rest of his percentages, Chisholm Jr. registers a .305 OBP, .403 SLG, and .708 OPS.

Chisholm Jr. leads the AL in stolen bases

In the meantime, Chisholm Jr. has made some good plays, along with some errors at shortstop. What has remained consistent is his base running, as Jazz has stolen three bases in his last four games, climbing to the top of the American League standings with 36 stolen bases on the year.

Chisholm Jr. admitted he doesn’t care about stealing bases as much as he cares about winning the World Series, but his numbers in 2026 are still noteworthy.

Every time Chisholm Jr. can enjoy a good outing, he will take it with appreciation. Not only will it help mend a broken relationship with many fans in the Bronx, but it could also set Chisholm Jr. up for when the time comes for him to become an unrestricted free agent in MLB. That won’t be too far from now.

However, Chisholm Jr. isn’t putting much thought into that, nor is he dwelling on his rough numbers in 2026. He made that crystal clear with his postgame comments after the Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 8-3 to take the series.

“Honestly, I don’t know [why I’m struggling]. A lot of balls that I’ve hit, I’ve hit it at the guy that’s been playing in that position for 120 years now. It’s just baseball. Not lucky this year, I guess,” Chisholm Jr. said after the game.

How Jazz deals with frustration

“It gets frustrating some times, but I just have such great teammates in the clubhouse that just keep my head on a swivel,” Chisholm Jr. admitted. “Reminding me of the talent I have, the things that I’ve done before, and just keep pushing away.”

His statement paints a clear picture of how the two-time All-Star goes about his day to day amid a character-testing year in his MLB career. So far this season, Jazz is batting .220, with a .297 OBP, .397 SLG, and .695 OPS.

Jazz with mistakes at the plate and second base

Chisholm Jr.’s struggles at the plate have led to a lack of confidence in his game, and for a player as charismatic and outgoing as Chisholm Jr., there is simply no hiding it, and it affects his play. Moreover, Jazz’s troubles at the plate often carry over to his fielding.

If there’s one thing he’s kept consistent despite the complicated contract year, it’s his base-running, as Chisholm Jr. ranks third in the American League in stolen bases (34). A win is a win, but that in itself may not be enough to earn Chisholm Jr. a new contract in the Bronx.

World Series is the only thing in his mind

Free agency is knocking on Jazz’s door. For the time being, he won’t answer, and he’s even declining to comment. His only goal is to win in New York. “To win a World Series, that’s the only goal I’ve got now,” Chisholm Jr. confessed. If that’s the case, Chisholm Jr. could very well be down to his last bullet in the chamber.

“The IL team is great, just to say. Just to have them back would just be a huge boost in everyone’s morale. I feel like everybody healthy is such good energy,” Chisholm Jr. said to the press.

The Yankees’ injury list doesn’t only feature top stars such as Judge, but also key players such as Ryan Weathers, Giancarlo Stanton and Max Fried. Will some of them return in time to help push New York to another World Series?

When will Judge and Bellinger be available?

Yankees fans shouldn’t have to wait much longer for Cody Bellinger’s comeback, as he’s set to rejoin the lineup on August 23 following a brief rehab stint for his left hamstring strain. As for Aaron Judge, his recovery from a right rib stress fracture is moving in the right direction—he’s already taking dry swings and doing tee work, with the front office eyeing a mid-to-late September return just in time for the stretch run.

The Bronx Bombers’ season despite the injuries

Injury setbacks are common in MLB, and the Yankees know that all too well. However, despite a large number of players who have been unable to perform as expected, Aaron Boone’s team remains in contention in the AL East.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., who blamed bad luck for his recent struggles, was one of the players who, in one way or another, tried to carry the team on his shoulders during this stretch of the season, which has the Pinstripes sitting at 73-56, just behind the Tampa Bay Rays.

What’s next for the Yankees?

The New York Yankees are set to wrap up their home series against the Toronto Blue Jays before heading into an off day on Monday. The Bronx Bombers will then host the Houston Astros for a three-game set starting August 25, followed by a high-stakes rivalry matchup against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, before heading out on a West Coast road trip to face the Los Angeles Angels.

To say Chisholm Jr. came to life during the Yankees’ last outing would be an overstatement. However, he deserves some credit. Recently, manager Aaron Boone cut Chisholm Jr. some slack after a fielding error, and the infielder paid him back with signs of improvement. Asked about his troubling 2026 MLB season after the game, Jazz made something clear.

“I feel like I’ve been seeing the ball well lately. It’s just kind of unlucky, like always,” Chisholm Jr. admitted during his postgame media availability. “But you know, just out here working every day, getting runs on the board for my teammates, move guys over, and hope I swing games.”

Chisholm Jr. faces pressure as free agency looms

Chisholm Jr. knows all eyes are on him amid a deflating contract year in MLB. It wasn’t too long ago that Boone warned the pending free agent about his missed opportunities and struggles at the plate, so Chisholm Jr. understands he isn’t off the hook just yet.

Even if he showed flashes during the Yankees‘ 5-3 win in Baltimore, the work is only getting started for Jazz. If he wants to flip the page, he must find more where that came from. Perhaps his latest showing in Charm City will help him find his charm again at the plate, as well as at second base, where his fielding errors have become constant head-scratchers for the Pinstripers.

Chisholm’s batting and base-running stats

Virtually every area of Chisholm Jr.’s game could use some tuning. However, his baserunning remains the stronges point. Although Jazz will likely fall short of his personal challenge to join Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 club, his stolen-base numbers still rank among the best in the American League and MLB.

So far this season, Chisholm Jr. has 33 stolen bases, second-most in the AL and third-most across both leagues. All things considered, the 30-30 club, which Jazz joined last year, would have been a more realistic target for the two-time All-Star.

However, he may not even reach the 30-home run mark this year. As it stands, Chisholm Jr. has hit 17 balls out of the park, but only four since the All-Star break. The clock is ticking, the regular season will be over soon, and Chisholm Jr.’s one-year, $10.2 million deal with the Yankees will enter its final countdown.

In what’s been a character-testing, deflating 2026 MLB season, Chisholm Jr. has found himself in the spotlight time and again. It was no different when he revealed his point of view on the polarizing play.

“I was on the other side [of the field]. From my side it looked like it went straight over, but that’s my view, you know? Probably from over there it probably was fouled closer to the line,” Chisholm Jr. admitted to reporters after the Yankees‘ 5-3 win in Baltimore, via YES Network.

Alonso’s thunderous hit that was waived off late in the game made waves all across MLB. Chisholm Jr. wasn’t the only to speak on the subject, as New York manager Aaron Boone sounded off on Alonso’s foul ball, as well. The Yankees’ manager didn’t voice a comment as eyebrow-raising as Chisholm Jr. did, though.

MLB addresses the drama

Shortly after the unsuccessful review determined that the call on the field stood and Alonso was deprived of his 30th home run of the season, MLB’s Replay Center released an official explanation of why the ball was called foul despite some video evidence suggesting otherwise.

“After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official could not definitively determine that the ball left the playing field in fair territory. The call stands, and it is a foul ball,” the MLB’s Replay Center’s statement read.

At the very least, there was a case to be made for calling it either fair or foul. In the end, it was Alonso and the Orioles who got the short end of the stick, much to the delight and relief of Chisholm Jr. and the Bronx Bombers.

NY Yankees-Orioles season record

With Wednesday’s win, the Yankees improved to 71-55 on the season while securing another series win over the Orioles (61-66). So far in 2026, New York is 7-2 against Baltimore.

After Thursday’s game, the two sides will meet for their regular-season finale series (Sept. 25-27). The Bronx Bombers can lose every remaining game against the O’s and will still finish with a winning record in the season series.

When needed, Yankees manager Boone hasn’t beaten around the bush, speaking honestly and often candidly about Chisholm Jr.’s shortcomings during such a crucial MLB season. This time, however, when asked about a recent fielding error by the 28-year-old two-time All-Star, Boone cut Jazz some slack, even though fans in the Bronx put him on blast for blaming an umpire for his error.

“When you’re a middle infielder, you’re constantly having those [conversations with the umpire]. It’s just part of the game, ‘Hey, a little left,’ it’s just part of the flow of the game. The one thing I want to make sure with Jazz [Chisholm Jr.] is are you placing [the umpire] well enough before the play, and I believe that he was,” Boone explained on Talkin’ Yanks podcast.

“For whatever reason, I think the umpire flinched a little too much at the ball coming and jumped right in [Chisholm Jr.’s] sightline. It’s one of those [plays] that almost never happen, but was a factor and it did happen.”

Chisholm Jr. struggling with NY Yankees

During Tuesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, Chisholm Jr. botched a ground ball preventing an easy double play that would’ve ended the first inning. New York still won, but Jazz went 0-for-4 at the plate, and his charged error did little to help his reputation in the Bronx.

Although Boone had his infielder’s back and agreed that the umpire caused the error, Chisholm Jr.’s struggles extend far beyond his mistake against the Baltimore Orioles and his overall play at second base.

His batting has been abysmal, and it’s a big reason why the Bronx Bombers miss Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge more than any other players. While Boone addressed Judge’s return during the 2026 MLB season, it remains to be seen when exactly he’ll be back. The Yankees have no shortage of setbacks affecting the roster, some bigger than others.

However, with the overall batting numbers being as troubling as they have been, Boone shutting down season-ending injury concerns surrounding Max Fried, and the pitching being New York’s best ally in 2026, it’s plain to see where the main issue lies heading into the home stretch of the season.

Chisholm Jr.’s batting stats

While Chisholm Jr. registers 56 runs, 87 hits, 17 home runs, and 48 RBIs in 2026, his percentages are tough to see. In fact, they are his lowest since his rookie year. Chisholm Jr. is batting at .214, putting up a .292 OBP, .384 SLG, and .677 OPS.

Entering a contract year on a one-year, $10.2 million deal that barely avoided arbitration, Chisholm Jr. had a lot to prove in 2026. There is still time for him to change the tide, and the most important games have yet to be played, but to many, the die is cast.

NY Yankees fans grow tired of Jazz

Fans have completely turned on Chisholm Jr., with many asking for him to be traded before the deadline. Even if he manages to end the year on a bright note, it seems any statistical improvement would help him land a better deal in another market, but the gates to Yankee Stadium will close on him.

Unless, of course, he is in for a phoenix-like rise and helps the Yankees win the World Series. Anything less may not be enough for Chisholm Jr. to change his fate in the City That Never Sleeps.