The New York Yankees are in a slump right now, one that has sunk them from surefire playoff contenders to a team that’s opened up the Wild Card race again. While the team can turn things around, I have little faith in the current roster to do much of anything, especially when given just how bad they’ve been over the last month. They haven’t won back-to-back games since June, they’re 0-7-1 in their last eight series, and overall it’s been an uninspiring display of baseball that reflects poorly on not just their talent, but their intensity as well.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. currently has a 107 wRC+ and brings both power and speed to the table, and the Yankees should act on their initial discussions around him this July.
The Yankees Should Trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr. At the Trade Deadline
On the surface, a .743 OPS and 107 wRC+ aren’t good enough to consider a player a difference-maker, but there’s more to Jazz Chisholm’s game than just his initial results. LoanDepot Park is a tough ballpark to hit home runs in for left-handed hitters due to the spacious dimensions, with right field being 335 feet away compared to the 314 feet in right field for Yankee Stadium. This is reflected in Statcast’s Expected Home Run metric, which takes into account dimensions, weather, and other variables to determine which batted balls would go for home runs at different ballparks.
According to Statcast, Jazz Chisholm would have 17 home runs at Yankee Stadium, five more than his total (12) on the season. That would be tied for the second-most home runs by a centerfielder behind only Aaron Judge, and if the Yankees moved him to second base, he would be tied for second as well. Adding home run power to the lineup would be exactly what they need, but his offensive contributions go beyond what he brings to the table with his bat, as he’s one of the faster players in the league.
Ranking in the 81st Percentile in Sprint Speed, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has a +2 Baserunning Run-Value and +1.8 BsR, both of the league’s best marks. If the Yankees can add another strong baserunner to their lineup, it would fix some of their glaring speed issues, as they’re the slowest team in baseball according to Sprint Speed. They’re also the worst baserunning team in baseball according to BsR, and they’ll need to address that at the deadline alongside improving the offense.
The biggest question I have is his defensive abilities at second base, but that’s not because of his previous play, but rather how long it’s been since he’s played the infield. Chisholm has been the starting centerfielder for the Miami Marlins since the start of the 2023 season, but when he played second base he was genuinely an excellent defender there. He has +7 Defensive Runs Saved with +8 Outs Above Average across 1,308.1 innings at the position, which would be the kind of defense that gets you Gold Glove looks.
If the Yankees are able to get the defensive value he put up as a second baseman in his career, they’re getting a nice boost there defensively as Gleyber Torres has -2 Defensive Runs Saved and 0 Outs Above Average. It would form an excellent duo up the middle for the Yankees that would greatly benefit their pitching staff, as the defense has a massive effect on run prevention. It may seem like the Yankees would be chasing a name, not a serious bat, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Jazz Chisholm is a legitimate upgrade on both offense and defense, providing some much-needed depth in the infield and giving them more power. With 2.5 years of control, he could be a longer-term fit as well instead of just a rental, but it all comes down to what the Miami Marlins ask for him.