If you wanted evidence of how the all-in Brian Cashman and the Yankees are this season, the trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr. is certainly Exhibit A.
As one major league scout put it: “They’re betting on talent and waiting on the guy’s makeup. He has a high ceiling, but there are also red flags. It probably wouldn’t be a trade they would make if they were playing better baseball.”
In other words, it should be fascinating to see how this happens.
The last time Cashman made a trade for a big personality, he admitted at the time that he thought the Yankees could benefit from someone with upside, bringing Josh Donaldson It turned out to be an expensive disaster.
Chisholm comes with that kind of reputation in terms of personality. He has criticized Miami Marlins teammates in the past and his bragging has also angered opponents at times.
The obvious differences, however, are age, athletic ability and price.
At 26, Chisholm’s best years may still be ahead of him. And while his transition from second base to center field hasn’t worked out as well as the Marlins had hoped, it speaks to his great athleticism, as well as his 22 stolen bases this season, which gives the Yankees the speed they so desperately need.
Finally, he’s making just $2.63 million this season and has two more years of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent after the 2026 season, so he’s reasonably cheap.
In short, the Yankees are looking for an offensive spark and hope Chisolm can provide it. At his best, he’s been an All-Star, breaking into the National League lineup in 2022, when his .860 OPS seemed to indicate he was becoming a difference-maker.
However, he only played in 60 games that season, missing the second half with a back injury. And then in 2023, he played just 97 games due to a toe injury that required surgery as well as an oblique issue.
So while Chisholm hasn’t missed time this season, there is a history of injuries the Yankees must consider. But more significantly, the question remains whether he will reach the ceiling that observers have long projected for him.
“He has the tools, but he hasn’t put it all together consistently,” a second scout said. “Is this just a matter of focus? I have to think that’s what the Yankees believe. That putting him in a winning environment will bring out the best in him.”
In fact, Chisholm’s numbers as Marlin were mostly pedestrian. Aside from his injury-shortened 2022 season, he has been a league-average player, judging by his OPS-plus numbers of 100 last season and 101 this season.
This season he is hitting .249 with a .730 OPS, in addition to 22 stolen bases and 13 home runs as well.
“You watch and it’s hard not to think there’s more in the tank,” said one scout. “He does some things that sometimes make your eyes pop out. (Jacob) deGrom a few years ago and I hit one on the top deck like it was nothing. And that was when deGrom was unreachable.
“But then you see him go through stretches when he’s chasing pitches out of the zone and hitting a lot, looking a little disinterested, and it’s hard to know if he’s going to reach that potential that you see in his best moments.”
The Yankees are obviously banking on his upside, giving up three prospects in the trade, catcher Agustin Ramírez and field players Jared Serna It is Abraham Ramirez.
Ramirez, the catcher, is intriguing to scouts largely because of his power: He hit 20 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A this season in 87 games and had a .942 OPS in 58 Double-A games before being promoted.
For what it’s worth, none of the prospects were in the Yankees’ Top 10 by the various farm system rankings, although one scout noted “Ramirez (the catcher) would definitely be a Top 10 guy if you were ranking (the prospects in potential) now.”
At this point, the Yankees can’t worry too much about potential cap space. With superstars like Aaron Judge It is Gerrit Cole at its peak, and Juan SotoWith pending free agency approaching, this is the definition of an all-in season, and the Chisholm trade is an indication that Cashman is growing at this trade deadline.
As it stands, it’s still unclear where Chisholm will play. The required position is third base, but he has only played shortstop and second base in his career, so there is speculation about a possible move. Gleyber Torres or even trade the current second baseman before Tuesday’s deadline.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt more moves are coming,” said one scout.
Wherever Chisholm plays, the Yankees hope he provides a boost to an offense that desperately needs more production beyond Soto and Judge.
The feeling among scouts is that Chisholm’s lack of focus can sometimes be attributed to the low-energy, losing environment surrounding the Marlins in Miami. And that he will be highly motivated when surrounded by the likes of Judge and Soto.
“It’s pretty clear that Judge is a great leader and highly respected by everyone on that Yankee club,” said one scout. “I think Chisholm will love the opportunity to play with a guy like that and be at his best day in and day out. If he can go to the next level, you would think this is where it will happen for him.”
Considering everything that’s at stake for Cashman and the Yankees this season, it’s a gamble worth taking.
