After the departure of Juan Soto, the New York Yankees will be counting on production from a bevy of new faces in 2025, including free agent signings Paul Goldschmidt, Max Fried and Cody Bellinger.

Some returning players, notably third-year shortstop Anthony Volpe and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., will be counted on to take a step forward, too. Both players flashed upside with their bats at times during last season’s World Series run, but their defense was a topic of discussion on Thursday.

Speaking to media after New York’s 7-7 tie in Grapefruit League action against the Philadelphia Phillies, Chisholm made a prediction for the Yankees’ infield — even as speculation continues to swirl around the team’s situation at third base.

New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

“I think we could be the best shortstop-second baseman in the league, definitely defensively,” Chisholm told reporters Thursday, per MLB’s Bryan Hoch. “And I think we are probably going to turn the most double plays in the league, too. That would be my prediction for us.”

Hoch later added, “That would be a tall order considering they were 23rd in the major last year with 112.”

Both Volpe and Chisolm are penciled in as opening day starters up the middle, but the hot corner remains a question mark as DJ LeMahieu has struggled to stay on the field, as his $15 million salary weighs on the payroll. Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza are the other primary contenders for the job entering March.

New York has been also loosely linked to a trade for St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado, but that ship has likely sailed with the 33-year-old, who has a no-trade clause, back in Cards camp.

Chisholm himself manned third base after his trade deadline arrival in 2024, but the departure of Gleyber Torres to Detroit has pushed him back to his original position while with the Miami Marlins.

The Yankees have one month to sort out third base before they open the 2025 regular season on March 27.