Despite being such a perfect fit together, it doesn’t appear the New York Yankees and Jazz Chisholm Jr. will find common ground on an extension this offseason.
The New York Post’s Greg Joyce stated that as Chisholm enters his final year of club control before reaching free agency following the 2026 campaign, the Yankees’ general insistence on avoiding extensions will likely prevail over the coming months.
“Jazz Chisholm Jr. has made it no secret that he would like to remain in pinstripes beyond next season, his final year of team control,” Joyce wrote. “And while Cashman did not shut the door on a potential contract extension — what good would that do? — it seems like a long shot to actually happen.
“In general, the Yankees’ policy has been to avoid extensions. There have been exceptions for players like Aaron Judge — though those discussions did not lead to a deal — and two other cases with Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks. Both of those backfired, which has only made the Yankees more reluctant to do extensions.”
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed that he spoke to the star second baseman’s agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, during the GM Meetings in Las Vegas earlier this week.
Cashman, however, said that the two sides have yet to broach the topic of a potential extension, but he didn’t completely shut that idea down, at least not publicly.
“I guess that remains to be seen, but we have not had any conversations outside of he’s looking forward to playing next year, he loves playing here and if we’re open, if you want to have a legitimate conversation about value, open to a longer-term conversation as well,” Cashman said, per Joyce. “But that’s the extent of it.”
Though there’s been some light speculation that New York could consider trading Chisholm given his status as a rental, but doing so would make no sense if the organization plans on contending next season, which it most certainly does.
In his first full year with the Yankees after arriving in a trade deadline deal from the Miami Marlins in July 2024, Chisholm established himself as one of the best second basemen in the league.
He ended up tying for the most home runs (31) and third-most fWAR (4.4) among qualified players who primarily play the position. Additionally, Chisholm slashed .242/.332/.481 to go with 31 stolen bases, making him the third player in club history to turn in a 30-30 campaign.
Chisholm was a superb defender at second as well with two Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and eight Outs Above Average (OAA).
It’s not like the Yankees have a ready-made replacement for Chisholm either, which would make trading him all the more puzzling. Could they go out and sign someone like Bo Bichette while moving him to second and keeping the duo of Anthony Volpe and José Caballero in place at shortstop? It’s not impossible, but that’s also not a likely scenario in the slightest.
Even if Chisholm and the Yankees don’t come to terms on an extension, keeping him in the fold next year and then reevaluating things next offseason feels like the right course of action.
The New Orleans Saints are finalizing preparations for the stretch of the 2025 season, with roster moves settling in and young players carving out their first real roles. But away from the practice field, one surprising off-field decision has drawn national attention.
As the franchise locks in its 53-man roster, focus should be squarely on football. Yet, the personal lives of rookies often become intertwined with the spotlight, especially when outside distractions collide with the demands of the NFL.
This week, a first-year Saint made a headline-grabbing decision unrelated to football. For him, staying in New Orleans’ long-term plans meant not only competing on the field, but also managing the pressures of celebrity attention off it.
That rookie is running back Audric Estimé, who recently secured a spot on the Saints’ 53-man roster after being elevated from the practice squad. Shortly after that milestone, he ended his relationship with a well-known social media celebrity, an online star with millions of followers and a massive global audience.
The influencer built her brand through music, lifestyle content and viral posts that turned her into one of the most recognizable young digital personalities. Her reach and visibility inevitably brought heightened scrutiny onto Estimé as he adjusted to life in the NFL and tried to solidify his role in New Orleans.
The rookie explained his choice candidly in a private conversation that has since circulated among team circles:
“Right now, I need to focus on building my career with the Saints. There were too many cameras, too many eyes on my life off the field. I need peace, I need focus – if not, I will lose my chance and get left behind in New Orleans.”
Fans immediately reacted across X and Instagram, some applauding Estimé for putting football first, others sympathizing with his former girlfriend and questioning the pressure placed on young players to sacrifice their personal lives. The split fueled debate over the challenges rookies face in balancing relationships with the ruthless demands of professional sports.
For Audric Estimé, cracking the 53-man roster is only the beginning. By cutting ties with distractions and the glare of social media celebrity culture, the rookie signaled that his priority is clear: proving himself in the Saints’ backfield and earning trust in New Orleans for years to come.