The New York Yankees head into the offseason weighing whether to keep second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. or turn elsewhere after his free-agent year.
Chisholm has said he would like to stay in New York on a longer deal, yet industry talk suggests the club may explore other fits at the position rather than commit big money.
One name drawing attention is Brandon Lowe, the second baseman who spent 2026 with the Pittsburgh Pirates after years with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley floated the idea in a recent free agency notes piece.
“Maybe the Pirates’ 82 wins, their most since 2018, will embolden them to spend, though Lowe’s contract could feature both a big annual salary and a good amount of years,” Buckley wrote. “That combination might be more than Pittsburgh’s front office can stomach, which would be music to the ears of a certain major-market big-spender with question marks at Lowe’s second base position.”
Buckley added the direct call: “Prediction: Lowe signs with the New York Yankees.”
Lowe put up solid numbers in his first season in Pittsburgh. He hit .260 with 35 home runs and 96 RBI across 150 games, posting an OPS+ of 121.
He did not make the All-Star team this year, though the production sat in that range for a middle infielder.
The Pirates finished 82-80, their strongest mark since 2018, which could make ownership more open to spending—or simply highlight the limits of their usual budget.
A multi-year deal at a high average annual value would push past what Pittsburgh has typically paid for position players.
Chisholm’s 2026 line sat lower on the power side. He batted .231 with 19 home runs, 55 RBI and 41 steals in 137 games, finishing with a 97 OPS+.
That gap in home-run output is one reason some view Lowe as a cleaner offensive replacement even if he brings less speed.
Chisholm has publicly expressed interest in returning, telling reporters after the Yankees’ ALDS exit that he hopes to stay and that New York is where he wants to be. Internally, the Yankees could shift Anthony Volpe to second base or lean on other infielders already on the roster while shortstop George Lombard Jr. settles in.
Lowe is a two-time All-Star who has cleared 30 home runs in multiple seasons and carries a career OPS around .810. His left-handed swing would play well in Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch, giving the lineup another power threat if Chisholm moves on.
Whether the Yankees actually pursue Lowe depends on how they value Chisholm’s upside against the cost and the other free-agent options at second base this winter.
