The New York Yankees appear poised to make some difficult roster moves before the MLB trade deadline, with one prominent insider floating the idea of dealing away Jazz Chisholm Jr. in a bid to reshape the lineup.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post raised the possibility that the club could look for a new home for the versatile infielder as part of a larger push to add talent. Sherman specifically tied the idea to potential interest in San Diego Padres star Luis Arraez, arguing that clearing space for the contact hitter would require hard choices.
“I would find a taker for Jazz and get Luis Arraez,” Sherman said. “I don’t trust Jazz’s focus in October.”
Chisholm has struggled mightily at the plate this season, posting a .225 batting average, .300 on-base percentage and .415 slugging percentage for a .715 OPS. His numbers took an especially sharp dive in June, when he managed just a .177 average across 79 at-bats.
The third baseman has been candid about the frustration, telling reporters earlier this week that the prolonged slump has weighed heavily on him.
“It sucked. I’ve sucked all season,” Chisholm said recently. “The numbers speak for themselves.”
Beyond Chisholm, other Yankees position players could also find themselves on the move. Devon Platana of SI.com pointed to shortstop Anthony Volpe and third baseman Ryan McMahon as candidates who might be available if the front office decides the left side of the infield needs a complete overhaul.
“As mentioned earlier, the left side of the Yankees’ infield has left much to be desired,” Platana wrote. “Volpe is only one half of the equation, though, as third baseman Ryan McMahon has been just as frustrating, if not more so, as he disappoints despite making $16 million annually.”
The potential acquisition of Arraez has drawn particular attention from analysts because of the void left by Aaron Judge. The Yankees placed their star outfielder on the 60-day injured list recently, and there is still no firm timeline for his return, leaving the offense searching for consistent production.
Mike Petriello of MLB.com noted that the Yankees rank among the more logical suitors for Arraez given how much the lineup has sputtered without Judge. At the same time, Petriello cautioned that fitting the new player into the existing roster would not be simple.
“Given how much the offense has collapsed since Aaron Judge went down, and because this team really does strike out too much, this is a fit that’s going to come up a lot, we think,” Petriello wrote. “The problem is that this really is an imperfect roster fit. Incumbent second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has had a down year, by his standards, but he’s hardly atop the list of Yankee problems. With Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt at first, and the potential that Judge and/or Giancarlo Stanton end up taking designated hitter time, it’s not clear how this would even work – as much as Yankee fans might like it to.”
That imperfect fit is precisely why Sherman and others believe moving Chisholm could become necessary.
The Yankees have already been connected to high-profile relief help such as Padres closer Mason Miller, signaling a willingness to be aggressive on multiple fronts. Yet any deal involving Chisholm would represent a calculated gamble.
The 28-year-old still offers speed, defensive flexibility and the potential for power when his swing is right, qualities that could appeal to contenders looking for a change-of-scenery bat.
For a Yankees club that has watched its offense sputter and its playoff path grow more complicated without Judge, the coming days will demand decisive action. Front-office officials must weigh whether keeping a struggling Chisholm through October is worth the risk, or whether shipping him out opens the door to the kind of upgrades that could steady a lineup that has lost its way.
As the deadline approaches, the conversation around Chisholm is only likely to intensify, especially if Arraez or similar contact hitters remain available.
Yankees fans, already anxious about the team’s direction, will be watching closely to see whether the club is prepared to make the kind of bold subtraction that could ultimately lead to addition.
