Yankees extend QO to David Bednar, but not to Jazz Chisholm Jr.
· Yahoo Sports
NEW YORK - David Bednar received word, officially, that the Yankees want him back.
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On Monday, the right-handed closer was extended a $23.15 million free agent qualifying offer by the Yankees, who did not extend one to lefty-hitting second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.
None of this came as a surprise, as Chisholm moves toward free agency and the Yanks try to reunite with Bednar.
In 2026, Bednar, 32, earned $9 million, so this represents a significant raise should he accept by next week's deadline.
That would lock in Bednar on a one-year contract for 2027 (with a lockout looming on Dec. 1). But it's more likely that Bednar rejects the offer and becomes a free agent, trying for a multi-year contract - with the Yanks among his suitors.
Over his year-and-a-half as the Yanks' closer, Bednar has proven to be durable and reliable, posting a 2.39 ERA with 45 saves and an 11-3 record in 86 games.
If Bednar rejects the qualifying offer and signs with another MLB team, the Yankees would receive draft pick compensation from the signing club.
Chisholm hoped to return as a Yankee, saying "this is where I want to be,'' immediately following a crushing end to 2026 - a three-game sweep by the eventual AL champion Rays in the Division Series.
"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,'' said Chisholm, though he didn't deny the reality after an inconsistent season, with more concentration and judgment lapses and his benching in ALDS Game 3.
"To see it maybe end here (stinks), but it’s part of the business,'' said Chisholm.
Center fielder Trent Grisham is no longer eligible to receive the QO, having been offered last year (he accepted the $22.05 million offer).
Additionally, seven other 2026 Yankees - Paul Goldschmidt, Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, Amed Rosario, John Schreiber, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Fulmer - are expected to declare free agency, which began Monday afternoon.
Also on Monday, the Yankees added utility player Marco Luciano to their 40-man roster.
Luciano, 25, posted a .971 OPS, batting .293 with 27 homers in 116 combined games this year at the Yankees' Class AA and AAA affiliates.
The right-handed hitting Luciano has 41 games of MLB experience with the 2023 and 2024 San Francisco Giants.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees extend QO to David Bednar, but not to Jazz Chisholm Jr.