Following a disappointing end to their 2026 season, the Yankees will take some time to reflect on what went wrong before eventually gearing up for another year to try and win a World Series.
Part of that preparation will come in the form of free agency where New York will decide which players it wants to add or possibly run back for another go around. In fact, the Yankees will have to make decisions on a few guys this offseason as players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Paul Goldschmidt and Trent Grisham will all become free agents.
For Chisholm and Grisham, it will be their first time on the open market while the veteran Goldschmidt has been in this position before.
“I do hope to be back,” Chisholm said. “… This is where I want to be.”
The 28-year-old who joined the Yanks at the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline has had an up-and-down tenure in New York. Chisholm got off to a great start after being acquired and hit 11 home runs in 46 games – power he hadn’t exactly tapped into with the Miami Marlins – while playing third base, a position he was unfamiliar with but willing to play.
Chisholm fizzled offensively in the playoffs during the Yankees’ World Series run, but he returned in 2025 and had a career-year with 31 home runs, 80 RBI and a 4.1 WAR to go along with 31 steals after 40 (18 with New York) the season prior.
After another no-show in the playoffs, Chisholm returned to the Yankees on a one-year, $10.2 million contract to avoid arbitration, but for the first time in New York found some struggles.
A disappointing season bled into a disappointing postseason which culminated with manager Aaron Boone going with Anthony Volpe at second base over Chisholm in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays to try and spark his offense — a decision that Chisholm had “no comment” for following the loss.
“You guys thought I had a great year last year and I didn’t even feel like I had a great year. It was a decent year, but [I] definitely didn’t have my best year this year,” Chisholm said.
Still, the versatile infielder who can also play the outfield, including center field, expressed his adoration for playing in New York and wants to stay put, although he knows there’s a chance his days with the Yanks are done.
“I love it as a Yankee,” he said. “I grew up as a Yankee fan. Being from the Bahamas watching Derek Jeter and those guys every day. It was a great time being a Yankee, I love my time as a Yankee, I had great years with the Yankees, had an All-Star year, had a Silver Slugger year it was great.
“I mean who doesn’t want to stay with the team that you’ve had such great times with and great years with? To see it maybe end here sucks, but it’s part of the business.”
Another player New York might let go is Goldschmidt who had a resurgence this season as the team’s platoon first baseman a season after being the full-time first baseman in his first season with the Yanks.
Goldschmidt, now 39 years old, slashed .252/.313/.452 with 18 home runs in 345 at-bats and expressed his desire to keep playing next season. Whether that’s with the Yankees, somewhere else or at all will be determined during the offseason.
“I’d like to continue playing so we’ll see if that opportunity happens,” Goldschmidt said. “I had a lot of fun playing here and just wanted to enjoy playing and enjoy competing and try to be part of and impact a team and help us win and was able to do that somewhat, but not ultimately get us with the group of guys here to win.
“So my mindset really hasn’t changed, hopefully be able to have a chance to do that again and hopefully win a championship.”
During his 16-year career, the seven-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, five-time Silver Slugger and 2022 MVP has never won a World Series.
As for Grisham, who accepted his qualifying offer last offseason for $22 million to be the Yankees’ everyday center fielder, he regressed heavily after a career-year in 2025.
Boone gave him an opportunity to get things started in Game 3 of the ALDS by moving him up to the leadoff spot, but Grisham finished 0-for-5 and made the final out of the game on a strikeout which ended New York’s season.
“The only thing I can say on it is I love the people here,” Grisham said about his pending free agency. “I’ve loved playing here. It’s a joy to show up every day and pull on the same side of the rope and really go after winning every day. I’ve loved my time here.”
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