Jazz Chisholm’s Move Gives Yankees a Trade Deadline Edge

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 30, 2025 4:35 PM ET

Now that Jazz Chisholm, Jr. had shot down any sniff of controversy about him switching positions to third base when he returns from the injured list, it’s interesting to see a national columnist explain the not-so-generous reasons the New York Yankees are making the move.

On the surface, it looks like a move to keep veteran DJ LeMahieu comfortable at second. But The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal points out there’s more roster-management strategy at play.

“Teams generally use their most athletic defenders in the middle of the diamond,” Rosenthal wrote, raising the obvious question: why put the quicker, more dynamic Chisholm at third?

The first reason: LeMahieu is less athletic but feels more at home at second base. That comfort level matters. It certainly matters when he’s coming off injury and struggling, hitting just .184 with a .507 OPS in his first dozen games back. The Yankees owe him $30 million for this season and next on the $90 million contract he signed back after the 2020 season. They need to find out what they have left in him.

The second, and perhaps more intriguing, reason is a nod to the trade market.

According to Rosenthal, the supply of second basemen available at the deadline might be deeper than the pool of third basemen. That makes Chisholm’s flexibility a valuable chess piece for the Yankees.

So, if LeMahieu can’t shake off his slump, New York can look to upgrade second base without losing ground elsewhere.

Chisholm’s versatility, the same thing the Yankees once valued in LeMahieu, could give them an advantage at the trade deadline. They have a few weeks to evaluate the situation and scope out what is going to be available at the trade deadline.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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