Is Jazz Chisholm Jr. already hurting his status with Yankees for 2025?

When the New York Yankees acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. just before the 2024 MLB trade deadline, there were benefits for the franchise for not only this season, but also campaigns to come as well. After all, the 26-year-old Chisholm will be eligible for arbitration once again in 2025 and won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season, cementing a potential piece of the franchise’s future.

However, after a postseason that has already seen Chisholm injected into the spotlight because of his comments and bravado, will the Yankees and Chisholm be able to coexist in 2025?

After Chisholm drew the ire of Kansas City Royals fans following his quote that the Royals “got lucky” in winning Game 2 of the American League Division Series, Chisholm soaked in all of the boos from Kansas City supporters during Games 3 and 4 at Kauffman Stadium. He also didn’t endear himself to the locals when he accused Kansas City’s Maikel Garcia of trying to injure Anthony Volpe on a hard slide at second base.

With all of that drama happening in the ALDS, New York manager Aaron Boone had a message for Chisholm ahead of the team’s ALCS matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.

“We’ve talked,” Boone told reporters. “I want him to be himself and feed off everything that the playoffs is, but understand what we’re going after and how important he is to all that. As long as he’s focused, we’re good.”

And that’s where New York may have to figure out if Chisholm can coexist with the “Yankee way” in the Bronx moving forward. Can Chisholm stay focused enough to blend in in pinstripes? There were admitted concerns about Chisholm’s strong personality during his days in Miami that New York general manager Brian Cashman downplayed right after the trade for Chisholm was completed. However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported just before the swap that some teams were “completely out” of any kind of Chisholm deal because of that strong personality.

Chisholm’s personality is part of who he is, and the Yankees are learning that firsthand this postseason.

Entering Game 2 of the ALCS, Chisholm’s words had made more of a postseason impact than his bat. Going just 2-for-19 through his first five October games with the Yankees, Chisholm is struggling after slashing .273/.325/.500 in his 46 regular-season contests with New York.

Certainly if the Yankees go on to capture their first World Series title since 2009, Chisholm’s cold start at the plate and words regarding the Royals will be an afterthought. However, the Chisholm-Yankees relationship is not one that ends when the postseason does.

After being slotted in at third base to fill a need for the Yankees (Chisholm’s first time playing the position in his MLB career that began in 2020), there is discussion that Chisholm could be back at his natural position of second base for the 2025 season. That could answer some questions for New York next year, provided that Chisholm’s play and demeanor fit what the Yankees need at the position.

While that is in the future, Chisholm’s first test with the Yankees is coming now. Can he follow Boone’s edict as long as New York is in the postseason? It’s a question worth watching, and the answer to it could have ramifications for Chisholm and the Yankees for 2025 and beyond.