The Marlins announced their status as finalists more than two months ago with their surprise early trade Luis Arraez, and with the trade deadline now 22 days away, their work in that case should backfire. Although most of the focus was close Tanner Scottwho is a free agent at the end of the season, Craig Mish of SportsGrid and the Miami Herald report that there is “a growing belief” Jazz Chisholm Jr. it will also be traded. Mish lists the Mariners as a “club to watch” if Chisholm is removed and suggests the Pirates and Royals could join the bid.
Chisholm, 26, is enjoying a solid season at the plate, hitting .255/.326/.407 (105 wRC+) with ten homers and 17 steals (albeit in 25 attempts). He’s struggled with strikeouts in the past, and while his 24.9% rate is still worse than average, it’s a significant improvement over the 29.2% clip he’s registered over the past four seasons. He paired those improved contact skills with a career-best 8.8% walk rate.
There is little doubt of Chisholm’s raw and star-caliber tools. He averaged 26 homers and 32 steals in 162 career games. However, he has never gone over 124 games in a season and has reached 400 plate appearances once so far in his major league career. Injuries often plagued Chisholm and caused him to miss significant time. Since becoming a regular in 2021, Chisholm has missed time with a shoulder injury, back strain (which required 60 days of IL), turf toe and oblique strain.
Chisholm earns an affordable $2.625MM this season and is controlled for two more years following the current campaign. He’s been the Marlins’ leadoff hitter the past two seasons, though that’s gone out of necessity. Miami has been unable to develop a center fielder and has come up empty in its long-term efforts to find a manageable option at the position. Chisholm, a natural shortstop who slid to second base early in his career, moved to center last year and received mixed reviews in most defensive metrics. He was a plus outfielder for over 1300 innings at second base before moving to the outfield.
All three of the potential parties listed in Mish’s report stand as obvious in the Chisholm deal being considered. Royals general manager JJ Picollo has been vocal about his desire to add a bullpen that can play both infield and outfield — a need that Chisholm could fill well. The Royals are evenly split as a team, but the bulk of the team is right-handed – including Kansas City’s top two hitters, Bobby Witt Jr. again Salvador Perez. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and second baseman Michael Massey (limited to 142 plate appearances due to injury) are the only left-handed bats on the roster who have turned in average production or better, by wRC+ rating.
Meanwhile, the Pirates have had a poor performance from second place this season. Since being called up, the former first round pick Nick Gonzales he’s brought about the league’s average offense (.269/.307/.414, 99 wRC+), but he’s been more productive against lefties than righties. Pittsburgh’s outfielders are also hitting just .227/.299/.352 as a combined unit this season. Chisholm can provide an offensive boost in either role or split his time between the two positions based on matchups.
Both the outfield and second base have been weaknesses for the AL West-leading Mariners as well. The hope in Seattle was that the offseason acquisition of Jorge Polanco would have strengthened second base, but the switch-hitter’s sustained attack came unexpectedly this season; in 214 plate appearances, the former Twins outfielder slashed .189/.280/.284 with a career-worst 33.6% rate. The outfielders put together a .230/.285/.365 batting line.
With two and a half seasons of club control remaining, an affordable salary and another productive season highlighted by his usual combination of speed and power, Chisholm should come with a high buyout cost. Mish notes that an offseason deal is possible as well, if the Marlins don’t get an offer they like in the next three weeks, and suggests that some current contenders could also look at Chisholm’s deal (both now. and in the offseason) as they look toward the 2025 campaign and beyond.
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