Can Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells bust their slumps in the Bronx?

Fri, May 15, 2026

On the premiere episode of Yankees Mailbag, SNY's Niki Lattarulo is joined by SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes to take on fan questions about the state of the Bronx Bombers. Questions are answered about the health of Max Fried and Giancarlo Stanton, the struggles of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells, plus potential trade targets to keep an eye on later in the season.

Video Transcript

What's up, guys?

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Yankees Mailbag, the show where we answer your questions.

I'm Nicki Jada Rulo.

Today we are joined by our MLB insider, Chelsea James.

Chelsea, thank you so much for joining us here on the first episode of Yankees Mailbag.

Huge deal.

This is a big day.

Very big day.

It is.

It's a big day.

Just a reminder before we get started, you can go to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

also, if you're on YouTube, you can drop your comments down below, but that's where you can submit your questions.

Anything and everything you wanna know about the New York Yankees, we have you covered.

So Chelsea, should we get right into it?

Let's do it.

All right, our first question, it comes from New York @NewYork5NY.

"What can you tell us about the status of the Yankees rotation and their injuries?

Should there be a concern?"

I don't think there should be a huge concern, but certainly Max Freed having an elbow issue is not what you want.

My motto when it comes to any elbow discomfort is it's never nothing, right?

It's always something, and that something is always, almost always gonna end with surgery of some kind.

Now, Max Freed has had forearm issues that didn't end in surgery, so he is one of the few who can fight these things off.

And I've been checking all day.

I still, we still haven't heard, you know, definitively what's going on there, what they found out.

so kind of waiting to, to see where that lands, but I think he didn't seem that concerned in the present.

You know, they certainly have time till October to get him back, but I do think any time it's elbow, you have to worry.

Now, do you have to worry, you know, about the rotation as a whole if he's not there?

I don't know.

I mean, Cam Schlitter's really good.

Gerrit Cole's coming back.

Rodon is back.

Ryan Weathers looks like he's taking a huge leap.

Will Warren is ex- as steady as they come.

So I still think they're one of the best rotations in baseball, even without Max Freed.

But I think they were Dodger-level challengers with him, and I don't know that I can say that without him, so I guess that's, that's a big deal.

I feel like this is something that happens to Yankee fans all the time.

It's like you're finally getting your pieces back, and then you get the alert on your phone that Max Freed got pulled from the game.

anything, like you said, with an elbow is just always, like, a heart-stopping moment.

But I feel like all the guys never, never seem that concerned when they talk about it post-game.

So fingers crossed, I'm waiting for a push to come on my phone that says best case scenario.

But- Yeah another big topic for the Yankees this season has been Anthony Volpe.

He didn't end up getting pulled up.

Everyone was like, they're, this is a new Yankee, Yankee vibe.

They're not just pulling him right up and babying him.

But Scary Airy at Big Judge 303 said, "I know Caballero got injured, but was Anthony Volpe REALLY," in all caps, "our best option?"

I think so, honestly.

Yeah.

Like, I, I mean, he's won a Gold Glove.

Like, I get it, right?

The offense is s- it has been subpar for a long time.

The defense was not good at times last year.

Like, I get that.

But a lot of teams would love to pull up a Gold Glove shortstop when, you know, their shortstop goes down.

And I think, like, even absent that, I think he is the right option, right?

I think you send him to triple A and say, "Prove you can be here, you know, when we need you.

Okay, we need you.

Prove it here," right?

I think it makes perfect sense.

I don't think, you know, it changes the urgency they acted with when they sent him down.

I mean, they had an injury and, and he makes sense.

So Lombard's not ready.

You know, I don't think there's anyone Maybe Lombard leaps him eventually, but we're not there yet, and I think he is the best option they have in their system right now.

And, you know, we'll see where that goes, right?

We all know his limitations as he's played so far.

Whether those continue to, to be true, you know, when he gets a chance, we'll see.

But yeah, I think he was a, a perfectly fine option.

And, you know, as Aaron Judge said, maybe he's a utility guy for this team, and maybe this gives him- Yeah a way in to kind of carve out that spot, and I think a lot of people would be much more comfortable with Anthony Volpe, you know, playing defense, you know, s- spot starts around the diamond, than as their- Yeah starting shortstop.

So if Caballero comes back as quickly as he thinks, maybe that's where he ends up, and, and I don't think that's a bad thing for them at all.

Yeah, and if you're the Yankees, the last thing you wanna do is pull Lombard up too soon.

He needs more- Yeah reps out in the minor leagues, and it's so early in the season, why even rush that if you don't need to?

Exactly.

But it just felt like, of course, they were having a good thing going, and then everything starts to go downhill as they do in baseball.

It's baseball, you never know what's gonna happen.

Ed Helinski at MrEd315 said, "Will Giancarlo Stanton continue with the Yankees until his contract expires after next season, or will injuries finish his career early?"

Yeah, I think he'll, he'll be around.

You know, he doesn't need to play 150 games.

He doesn't, I mean, frankly, need to play 100 games as long as he's healthy in October and can hit bombs.

I mean, it's great to have him there, but they have the luxury of not needing Giancarlo Stanton every day.

and that is, you know, a testament to their roster building, but also, you know, I think they, I think this is what you expect.

Like, you kinda know, you know, that his skill set is a product of his physique, and his physique makes it very hard to stay healthy.

And as long as you can get him out there in the games that matter down the stretch, you'll take it.

You know, if I think he will finish his contract there, what happens after that, I don't know.

You know, he has broken down a lot.

But yeah, I think you'd keep him as long as you can and hope he's there when it matters, because he makes a huge difference when he's healthy.

Yeah, and the fact that the Yankees are a team that could have three, six, seven guys on one roster is really insane to think about.

So if we have, Spencer Jones and Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge all side by side, I think that's crazy.

But yeah, they need to keep Stanton as He needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap until October.

Yes.

No, no reason to get him more hurt than he needs to be.

Um- Mm-hmm sleep@blueflavoredjello saidReally love that at, Blue Philly Virgillo.

"Why is everyone harping on Jazz's slump when Wells has been way worse?

Why hasn't Wells faced any heat for his performance at the plate this season?"

That is a good question.

It is.

It's, it's a s- it's a psychology question that I might not- be equipped to answer.

I have some theories, but you know, like Jazz, Jazz just says what he, what He says what he's thinking.

Yeah.

And, and that rubs some people the wrong way.

I personally find it kind of refreshing.

But I think he just brings more heat on himself than, than almost anyone in that clubhouse, so that's not surprising to me.

And he said he wanted to hit, you know, go 50/50, and he's struggling.

So I think naturally, you know, there's criticism there.

Wells, and Wells catches, right?

Like, that's a big deal, you know.

He handles one of the best pitching staffs in the majors.

He seems to do it very well, at least from what I can tell.

You know, I, I think he's, you know, improved and his skill set has evolved, and I think you should get credit for that, day in and day out.

He's also had some stretches where I think he's hit, genuinely hit into some bad luck.

I would, I have not looked at the numbers, I'll confess, but by the eye test it feels like there's been some games where he's hit some line drives, you know, a lot of games where he's hit some line drives that have gone at people.

So, you know, I don't think he's been agonizing to watch, you know?

So that's part of it.

But yeah, I mean, he, he is one of the reasons it's scary how good they've been, because he really hasn't contributed, and obviously Jazz hasn't either.

And imagine if you turn those switches on, you know, that lineup is scary.

So yeah, I don't know psychologically why people, you know, like hating Jazz so much, but- Yeah but I do think it's fair to point out that Wells has struggled at the plate.

And, and for me- Yeah it's like whatever he does offensively right now is a bonus in that lineup, 'cause they- Exactly they clearly are fine without him.

But do you think because Jazz is so vocal in saying like, "I'm gonna hit 50/50 this year.

I wanna be the MVP," do you think it, like, sets him up for more criticism because he's having these outrageous, not outrageous goals for himself, but, like, no one thought he was gonna hit 50/50?

Yeah.

I think the thing with Jazz is that he tells you what he's thinking and, and sometimes what he's thinking seems crazy.

But I think if you asked all these guys in there, like, I think a lot of them think they could go 50/50.

They just don't say it.

Yeah, yeah.

And you know, I think when we see people's, you know, the confidence it takes to be a Major League Baseball player, if you saw it sort of laid bare, you'd, you'd think that about a lot of people.

but yeah, I mean, he's just a fun personality.

He doesn't care and, like, I don't know.

He, he brings a lot of attention to himself, so when it's not going well, it's negative attention.

but he's a real talent and I, I think he will, you know, maybe not go 50/50 'cause he's, he had a tough- rough first 40 games, but he's coming.

Yeah.

And, and I, you know, I think he does get treated a I don't know.

It's, it's tough.

It's complicated.

You know, he makes mistakes.

Yeah.

He's just kind of one of those guys who, who is a, a lightning rod, and I think he kinda likes it.

Yeah.

And I think he's at his best when he's in the spotlight, so.

And I feel like Wells kind of lays low so no one picks on him, because he's not saying much, so he kinda just flies under the radar.

But I do think- Yeah Wells is a guy that has the potential to be so good offensively.

He just has to get hot.

Yes.

And I think, again, it's early, so hopefully later on in the season he picks things up offensively.

Okay, moving on.

@KingPink said, "What's brewing with the Yankees in terms of trades so far this season?

What kind of acquisitions might they target at the deadline?"

Yeah, I think the big, the big area for them is probably gonna be bullpen.

You know, the bullpen's been okay.

Mm-hmm.

They've hung in there.

But yeah, I think they need some, some backend help.

I don't think there's anyone, you know, in the eight or nine who you look at and you're like, that's a, a sure dominant thing.

I mean, Bednar has been really good.

They've just been sturdy, but they haven't been dominant.

And I think there is a chance they've already been the best they'll be.

Some of those guys may be pitching a little over their heads.

Aaron Boone also said at one point, like, they're better than people think.

That might be true.

They might be fine.

Either way, I just expect them to get bullpen help because I don't know where else they need help.

Like, you know, you're waiting for Stan to get back from injury.

Caballero.

You know, you're waiting for Wells to hit, Chisholm to hit.

Like, I don't s- McMahon's sort of hitting, so there's, there's not glaring weak spots.

Position player corps, and you know, the rotation is still very deep, even without Max Fried.

Would never put it past anyone to acquire more starting pitching.

But for me, it'll be bullpen, and I don't think there's a lot of urgency.

I think it'll be more close to the tri- trade deadline, you know, when they can see how the market shapes up.

'Cause they're, they're all right right now.

They're just, they're kinda chugging along.

Yeah, they're fine.

I think they're not, like, hitting their stride yet, which makes it a little scarier for other teams- Yeah because they have so much potential.

And if they can make that bullpen stronger, I think they're gonna be really scary and hopefully go head-to-head with the Dodgers in the World Series, and they're gonna need a good bullpen for that.

@JudgeCole46, "What's up with Oswaldo Cabrera?

Is he ever gonna suit up for the Yankees again?"

I definitely think he will.

that injury was a big injury, right?

Like, I think he's obviously been playing, you know, in triple A, but I think, I think there's a lot more to regain than it might seem like there.

Mm-hmm.

and frankly, you know, there hasn't been a great spot for him.

There just hasn't been a huge need.

I mean, you could, you could argue for him instead of Volpe, I think, but also Anthony Volpe has been a starting shortstop in the majors, and there is someone they've invested a lot in.

So I think, you know, this makes sense to me that they chose him.

But I, I think Cabrera will be back at some point.

But I, I think there's probably more, I don't know, getting back to full Oswaldo Cabrera happening behind the scenes than is evident in terms of how much he's playing.

It's a big, big injury and, you know, I think they wanna make sure he's settled right, all these things, before they kinda bring him into a setting where he's, he's gotta kinda give it all like he did again.

Yeah, you have to remember the ankle was, like, fully broken, so people that think that it wasn't, that it's like, "Oh, why don't we just pull him up for Anthony Volpe?"

Like, Anthony Volpe had an injury, but not snapping his ankle in half, so definitely not wanting to rush him back early, and Anthony Volpe is the clear choice.

People just-Have a lot to say.

@BX4Life27 said, "What would need to happen for Hal Steinbrenner to consider moving on from Aaron Boone and/or Brian Cashman, or are they forever untouchable?"

I was thinking about this when the Yankees were winning like 15 of 17.

I was like 100% chance Aaron Boone gets asked about his job at some point this year.

Like they are off to an incredible- Yeah, of course start, and I can guarantee that will happen.

Um- Mm-hmm I think the exact opposite of what is happening would have to be happening, you know, for that to even be considered.

Like, I think they're in great shape.

I think Cashman weathered a lot of criticism this off season, spit out a roster that looks really good to me.

I think Boone's done a good job.

You know, you know who he is.

The guys seem to like him.

I, you know, I understand, right, that you gotta win a World Series, but I think they've got a really good chance this year, and I think that's all you can ask.

So, you know, maybe it's more of a macro question.

Like, I do think there's a world in which they move on.

I think, I think it's I mean, it is sooner than it's ever been, right?

It's because they've been here so long, Cashman's been here so long.

But I think they've got a, you know, one last run or two in them, maybe not even last, you know.

I think they're in a really good shape as an organization.

maybe only by their standards, is that even a reasonable question, and, I don't even think it's reasonable at this point, frankly.

So do you think if the Yankees lo- 'cause we're assuming they're gonna go to the postseason.

If they lose in the first round of the playoffs, is that, in your mind, a reason to get rid of either Boone or Cashman?

It's, it kind of feels to me like getting rid of Mendoza, right?

It's like- Yeah it's kind of the, the thing you do because you're supposed to change something when it doesn't work.

But I don't know.

You know, I It's possible I'm too kind and I'll ch- you know, change my mind in a few months.

I just think they've built a really good team.

I think they've got- Yeah a really good clubhouse.

so losing in the first round, yeah, I think you'd have to say, "What do we have to do to advance?"

But then I don't know what you do differently, 'cause I don't know how you build a team that feels more equipped for what they want to achieve than this one.

So- Yeah I don't know.

You know, maybe Hal Steinbrenner freaks out and, and stuff, but I, I don't know.

I just think they're in really good shape.

And I get it, you know, and, and there are years in past years where I've been like, "Maybe you do need to move on," right?

Mm-hmm.

I just think they look, you know I think Cashman looks pretty smart right now.

Yeah.

That can change really fast, but this team has- It can has coalesced in a really positive way, I think.

Yeah, this team is off to a great start.

Subway Series this weekend gonna be exciting.

The Mets are on a little bit of a streak themselves.

The Yankees- Yeah struggling a bit coming into this, so it's gonna be a great weekend.

Exciting to see what both of those teams do.

but that does it for our first Yankees mail bag show.

We will be back.

Thank you so much for watching.

You can submit your questions for the next episode on SNY's Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or drop them in the YouTube comments below.

But for Chelsea James, I'm Nicki Jettarulo, and we will see you back here next time.