The Athletics don't have many holes on the position player side of things, with former All-Stars or potential All-Stars around the diamond. The one spot they don't quite have nailed down is second base.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden made 40 predictions for pending free agents on Tuesday, along with what they would sign for and the teams that would be the best fits for that player. New York Yankees free agent second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was one of the players listed as a fit for the A's. 

Chisholm ended up hitting .231 in 2026 with a .312 OBP and a 98 wRC+ (100 is league average), adding 19 home runs and 41 stolen bases. His defensive grades were a little erratic, with defensive runs saved giving him a -6, while outs above average had him at a +13 and fielding run value gave him a +8. 

While his wRC+ was a little below league average, adding value with the glove and finishing with the third-most stolen bases in MLB are true positives for a team like the A's who could use more speed and upgraded defense. 

The first big red flag for any A's pursuit in free agency is that Bowden also projected Chisholm to receive a six-year, $128 million contract with an opt-out after the second year.

That would easily be the biggest contract ever handed out by the team, and it would be for a nice-to-have upgrade at second base, rather than an area of need. The A's have internal options in that they're comfortable with who will cost the big-league minimum in 2027.

For similar money, the A's could build a pretty solid bullpen. 

Athletics Roundtable recently floated the idea of signing Brandon Lowe in free agency. He is coming off a better offensive and defensive season, but given that he's 32, is projected by Bowden to receive three years and $45 million. Lowe hit 35 home runs and drove in 96 in 2026, on top of being one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball.

That's much more within the A's wheelhouse if they're going to address second base with an external option. 

The other reason is that Chisholm's 30.9% whiff rate ranks in the 13th percentile, while his 29.5% strikeout rate ranks in the 9th percentile. For a team looking to make strides at the plate and limit strikeouts, those two numbers don't bode well for that trajectory. 

Chisholm would add some flair to the A's team, but isn't what they're after if they're going to spend big money. His better fit may be more in line with a club needing a potential big bat in the lineup. The A's have a number of those already and can be a little more picky if they choose to address second base via free agency.