Photo by Ryan Casey Aguinaldo (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Yankees to extend qualifying offer to David Bednar, but not Jazz Chisholm Jr.: report

The New York Yankees are preparing to make a key move in this winter’s free agency by extending a one-year qualifying offer to reliever David Bednar, worth $23.15 million—the league’s average salary for the top 125 earners. Bednar, now 32, had a standout 2026 campaign, logging 35 saves with a 2.47 ERA and a 1.038 WHIP while striking out 76 batters across 69.1 innings, ranking among MLB’s elite closers.

Meanwhile, the team will not pursue a qualifying offer for infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., who struggled offensively in 2026, slashing just .231/.312/.399 despite 19 home runs and 41 stolen bases. Chisholm’s defensive and baserunning inconsistencies, paired with a decline in power production, appear to have cost him a retention bid.

The Yankees may instead rely on Anthony Volpe, who has shown promise at second base, or infielders like Jose Caballero and Luis Garcia to fill the void. The decision mirrors last year’s qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, who accepted the $22.025 million deal despite a sharp regression in 2026, though Grisham is now expected to hit the open market alongside other Yankees under team control, including Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, and relievers Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, and Ryan Yarbrough.

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