Yankees make David Bednar, Jazz Chisholm qualifying offer decisions but still face plenty of obstacles

The Yankees have made their calls with the qualifying offer ahead of Monday's 5 p.m. ET deadline. And unlike last year, they will leave nothing up to chance. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is likely departing in free agency after being passed over for the QO. Meanwhile, David Bednar has two weeks to decide if the $23.15 million salary for 2027 is preferable.

At the very least, there's not going to be a mysterious Trent Grisham purgatory situation like there was in 2025. Bednar is an established back-end reliever who's unequivocally worth that price tag for a year. If he stays, then great, the Yankees have their closer. If he departs, then they can piece the bullpen together a bit differently and gain a draft pick.

There's also another scenario in which Bednar and the Yankees take the next couple weeks to negotiate a contract extension. Bednar doesn't want the lack of security with the one-year QO? The Yankees want a better AAV than a top-of-market price tag for a closer? Then why not a three-year contract that pays the right-hander somewhere in the $17-$18 million range?

That probably has to be step one. Neither side really benefits from a one-year partnership. Bednar is a very good reliever who will age well due to his advantageous pitch mix and the Yankees can't afford to have another offseason with notable personnel turnover. It happens far too often for them.

But then there's the other elephant in the room ... and that's everybody else who received the qualifying offer on Monday.

Yankees give David Bednar qualifying offer, but others will affect free agency

Want to upgrade the bullpen with another big arm alongside Bednar? The next best reliever on the market in Adrian Morejon has draft pick compensation attached to him thanks to the QO. Want to fill the void at second base with a veteran lefty slugger? Same goes for Brandon Lowe. How about searching for that right-handed hitting catcher to complement Austin Wells? Oh, Ryan Jeffers got the QO, too? Interested in Seiya Suzuki to help solve the outfield voids in a creative manner? All we're saying is get ready to pay big money AND surrender draft picks when it comes to some of the most obvious free agent fits for the Yankees.

There are obviously other solutions that we have discussed and will continue to discuss, but now we have answers in regard to their potential obstacles. There have been six times in franchise history when the Yankese signed a player who had been given the qualifying offer: Max Fried (2024), Carlos Rodón (2022), Gerrit Cole (2019), Carlos Beltran (2013), Jacoby Ellsbury (2013), and Brian McCann (2013). All of those players signed contracts of three years or more and five out of the six landed five years or more. Looking at this list, only Morejon deserves that type of investment, given his age and capabilities. Everybody else, while still able to help the Yankees, is an aging veteran who will only add more woes to the payroll if they're signed beyond their welcome.

And let's face it ... so far only Fried and Cole have been worth giving up a draft pick for. It's a small price to pay, but when you're surrendering assets and paying top dollar, it better be the right fit. With the lockout looming and transactions set to be suspended on Dec. 1, it's not going to be smooth sailing for the Yankees this offseason.

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