Brian Cashman responds to Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade rumors with Yankees at crossroads

Jeff Passan's Winter Meetings recap for ESPN contained a short detail that's caused quite a stir in New York sports media: the Yankees are reportedly listening to trade offers for All-Star second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, continuing his candid communication style from Orlando, responded directly to the Jazz buzz before it festered for too long in the poisonous echo chamber of social media.

Per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Cashman didn't shoot down the Passan report at all, describing the Yanks as being "open-minded" about Jazz, while also making a feeble attempt to give Chisholm his flowers by describing Jazz as "above-average" and a "good get." Wow, Jazz might struggle to hold back the happy tears upon hearing such ego-bursting praise.

Cashman's hollow compliments aside, the reality we're all left with is that, yes, the Yankees are considering trading Chisholm. We heard it from the source himself. The question now becomes, should they?

If the Yankees can get Bo Bichette, trading Jazz Chisholm Jr. makes some sense

To put it simply, Chisholm — though a flawed player — is one of the best second basemen in Major League Baseball. His game and personality also fit the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, which can't be said for plenty of stars. It's not that hard to argue that Cashman should have extended Jazz before last season. Chisholm's plate production in 2025 now makes an extension more expensive (hence the trade rumors).

It's worth noting that Chisholm's probably in line for a career year in 2026 (health provided) because he's in the glory of his athletic prime and playing for a new contract — an explosive combination. By keeping Jazz in the 2026 lineup, the Yankees could benefit from that production, even if it presents the risk of getting nothing in return for Chisholm if and when he walks next offseason. But who knows what'll happen? Who knows if we'll even have baseball in 2027?

The argument for trading Jazz, beyond the fact that he's a year away from free agency, becomes much stronger if you believe Cashman is on the verge of signing Bo Bichette this winter. Bichette is also 27 years old and is one of the few guys who might make Yankees fans forgive Cashman for trading a fan-favorite in Chisholm.

If this were the Yankees of 20 years ago, we'd probably be talking about extending Chisholm (overpay be damned) and signing Bichette. That way you could either move Jazz back to third and end the Ryan McMahon experiment, or play Bichette at short and finally give up on the Anthony Volpe-is-a-star charade (three years running).

Alas, a Bo-Jazz infield probably isn't in the cards for 2025 Brian Cashman, even if it would have been in 2005. Maybe he'll surprise us all and transform into vintage Cashman in January. More realistically, Yankees fans should hope that if Jazz does indeed get traded, it's because Bichette is about to don pinstripes.