MLB Free Agency Predictions Heat Up For Jazz Chisholm Jr. As Yankees Weigh Replacements

MLB free agency: Predicting landing spots for top players, including Jazz Chisholm Jr., Freddy Peralta, more.

Free agency is officially open.

As of Monday, five days after the Milwaukee Brewers clinched the first World Series title in franchise history, eligible players are able to talk to and negotiate with all 30 teams.

The goal is simple: find a new employer.

Some players will get long-term deals worth more than most of us could ever dream of.

So who goes where?

That is for agents and general managers to figure out.

CBS Sports experts have already covered Tarik Skubal.

Now they are digging a bit deeper down the list for a new round of guessing games.

One of the biggest names in play is Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The New York Yankees are widely expected to let him leave in free agency.

Reports have indicated that the Yankees do not want to bring him back.

The problem is not with his play.

Multiple reports have said that his attitude has not made many in the Yankees' front office or clubhouse too happy.

One NJ.com writer even suggested that Yankees captain Aaron Judge bears some responsibility for not reining in Chisholm's antics.

Randy Miller of NJ.com wrote: "I'll start with this: All the stuff that Jazz Chisholm got away with the last few years and that clubhouse culture stuff you're hearing from CC Sabathia, Joe Girardi, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and other Yankees alums who won World Series is partially an indictment on Aaron Judge. He is the captain."

Miller acknowledged that Judge is a great leader and a respected teammate.

But he argued that Judge needs to be tougher.

"I think if he was tougher, some of this stuff would stop because Judge is so respected," Miller wrote.

The Sporting News noted that this criticism is unfair to Judge.

Chisholm is a grown man who makes his own decisions.

Judge cannot control Chisholm going out to second base with a lollipop in his mouth.

Still, the expectation around Major League Baseball is that the Yankees are not going to bring Chisholm back.

Not extending him a qualifying offer seems all but guaranteed right now.

Anything can happen in free agency.

If Chisholm does not find the market he is looking for, and the Yankees can get him at a relatively low price, bringing him back on a short-term deal would not be the worst idea.

But for now, the Yankees are preparing for other moves.

They have to consider who will replace Chisholm at second base.

There are a couple of other second basemen available to pursue.

Pittsburgh Pirates free agent Brandon Lowe is at the top of that list.

Lowe has been among the best second basemen in all of baseball over the past couple of seasons.

An argument can be made that he might be the best offensively at the position in the game.

Another option is Luis Arraez.

Arraez is a completely different player than Chisholm or Lowe.

He does not offer the same power that those guys have.

The Yankees love players with that power tool.

That is not necessarily the worst thing, but it does pose a question.

How are the Yankees going to figure things out at the position this offseason?

Arraez might be relatively cheap compared to Lowe and Chisholm.

That could make him appealing to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

MLB Trade Rumors recently predicted free agency contracts and landing spots.

They projected Arraez landing a three-year, $48 million deal.

The Yankees were named a potential suitor.

"That pedestrian finish tamped down some of the enthusiasm surrounding an otherwise terrific year," MLB Trade Rumors wrote.

"Arraez now returns to free agency ahead of his age-30 season and on the heels of a better performance than he showed in 2025."

He answered some questions about his defensive future.

But the market generally does not reward second basemen.

Arraez is one of three big-name players at the position.

He will have some notable competition.

The market also rarely shows out in a big way for players who lack even average pop.

Andrew Benintendi's five-year, $75 million deal with the White Sox is the biggest one you will find in recent memory for a hitter with fewer than 10 homers.

But Benintendi was two years younger than Arraez when he got that deal and had shown some power earlier in his career.

Beyond the infield, CBS Sports experts also predicted landing spots for other top free agents.

Adrian Morejon is one name to watch.

There are already rumblings that Morejon wants to start in 2027.

More than a few teams will be willing to give him that opportunity.

The Cubs need all kinds of pitching, both starters and relievers.

They can make it work even if Morejon cannot hack it as a starter and needs to return to the bullpen.

Regardless of role, he is an excellent pitcher.

Few teams need as much pitching as the Cubs this winter.

It is a perfect match, according to CBS Sports' Mike Axisa.

Dayn Perry added that any team can use a lockdown reliever like Morejon.

He is young for a free agent.

He has the repertoire to be a starter conversion, too.

The Yankees could use him, and Perry expects they will pay what it takes.