Jazz Chisholm Jr has already secured his salary for 2026, but his ambition goes far beyond money.
The star infielder signed a one-year, $10.2 million contract with the New York Yankees to avoid arbitration and will become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season. However, when he spoke to the press on Wednesday, he made it clear that his real obsession is not the next big contract… but the American League MVP.
I can make all the money I want, but I won’t be satisfied until I win the MVP
A statement that not only reflects confidence, but also competitive hunger.
The problem (or challenge): Aaron Judge
If Jazz wants the MVP in 2026, he will have to overcome none other than his own teammate. Aaron Judge, the face of the franchise, already has three MVP awards and is coming off winning the most recent one after a monster season:
- .331 average (MLB leader)
- .457 OBP (MLB leader)
- 53 home runs
- 179 hits
- 114 driven
These are numbers that set the standard in the American League.
For Chisholm to seriously enter the conversation, he will need a truly elite campaign.
Jazz’s argument: he already took the first step
In 2025, Chisholm had one of the best seasons of his career and entered the exclusive 30-30 club:
- 31 home runs (a personal best)
- 31 stolen bases
- 80 runs batted in (career high)
- .242 average
- .332 OBP
- 112 hits
The talent is there: power, speed, defensive versatility and charisma. But the jump from “great season” to “MVP season” requires elevating virtually all of those numbers.
Especially on a team where Judge steals the spotlight.
The MVP, beyond statistics
The MVP is not won by numbers alone. It also weighs:
- Impact on victories
- Clutch moments
- Leadership
- History around the player
If the Yankees dominate the division and Chisholm is central to their success, his candidacy would quickly gain momentum.
The opening day will be his first test
The symbolic race will begin on March 25, when the Yankees face the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day.
That’s when not only the season will start… but also Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s personal campaign to prove that his ambition is not empty talk.
Many players prioritize securing multimillion-dollar contracts. Jazz Chisholm Jr. wants something different: historical recognition.
The money will come. But for him, the real value is etched into a trophy he does not yet have in his hands.
And in New York, where the pressure is relentless, that mentality can make him a protagonist… or put him in front of the biggest challenge of his career.
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