NEW YORK -- The Yankees can picture a bullpen that would again be anchored by right-handed closer David Bednar, who received a qualifying offer from the club ahead of Monday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline: a one-year deal valued at $23.15 million.
They did not extend the same offer to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is now positioned to test the free-agent market without Draft pick compensation attached.
Bednar, 32, has until Nov. 17 to accept or reject the offer, which is calculated annually based upon the average salary of Major League Baseball’s 125 highest-paid players.
The qualifying offer does not prevent the Yankees from negotiating a multi-year contract with Bednar, who was 7-3 with 35 saves and a 2.47 ERA in 64 appearances this past season, setting career highs in wins and innings pitched (69 1/3).
Acquired from the Pirates in July 2025, Bednar has compiled a 2.39 ERA and 45 saves over his 1 1/2 seasons in New York. This past season, Bednar’s 35 saves tied for third in the AL, while his 89.7 save percentage ranked sixth in the AL (min. 10 save opportunities).
“I think it's just trying to do a task, finish a task, and just take it one at a time,” Bednar said during the postseason. “When I'm down there, I'm ready for whenever the phone rings in whatever situation, whatever the team needs me to do. So whenever that may be, I'm always prepared.”
The Yankees’ bullpen was a strength this past season, when Bombers relievers posted a 3.13 ERA that ranked second in the Majors, and they were fourth in WHIP (1.22).
Bednar was one of six Yankees relievers to become free agents on Thursday, along with Paul Blackburn, Michael Fulmer, Tim Hill, John Schreiber and Ryan Yarbrough.
Chisholm presented a more difficult case for the organization to mull. Coming off a 31-homer, 31-steal season in 2025, Chisholm entered a contract year with big aspirations, publicly setting his sights upon joining baseball’s exclusive 50-50 club.
Instead, Chisholm experienced a downturn at the plate, batting .231/.312/.399 with 19 homers and 55 RBIs in 137 games. He stole 41 bases, a career high, but he finished with a .711 OPS, more than a hundred points lower than his .813 OPS in 2025.
Chisholm was left out of the lineup for two postseason games, including the season-ending Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Rays.
That night, Chisholm expressed frustration about his communication with manager Aaron Boone, saying he didn’t learn of the benching until he arrived at Yankee Stadium.
“I’d always prefer a conversation, so I would at least know what I’m walking into,” Chisholm said then.
Anthony Volpe drew the start at second base instead. The Yankees’ internal choices at second base include Volpe, José Caballero and Luis García Jr.
Still, Chisholm said then that he would welcome a reunion with the Yankees, for whom he has batted .243 with 61 homers and 158 RBIs in 313 games since being acquired from the Marlins in July 2024.
“This is where I want to be,” he said. “I love it as a Yankee. I grew up as a Yankee fan, being from the Bahamas, watching Derek Jeter and those guys every day. It was a great time being a Yankee. I loved my time as a Yankee.
“I had great years with the Yankees; I had an All-Star year, had a Silver Slugger year. Who doesn’t want to stay with a team that you’ve had such great times with and great years with? To see it maybe end here sucks, but it’s part of the business.”
Last year, the Yankees extended a qualifying offer to outfielder Trent Grisham, who accepted the $22.025 million pact. Grisham, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and infielder/outfielder Amed Rosario are also currently free agents.