BOSTON — The New York Yankees have long needed reinforcements.
The process of adding them began in earnest Saturday when the Yankees completed a trade with the Miami Marlins for second baseman and center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr.
In the deal, which was first reported by SportsGrid’s Craig Mish, the Yankees are sending Triple-A catcher Agustin Ramirez, High A infielder Jared Serna and rookie infielder/outfielder Abrahan Ramirez to Miami.
“Very talented,” manager Aaron Boone said before Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. “Athletic. Speed. Power. Seems versatile. Can play a lot of different spots. I’ve only seen him from a distance, obviously, but he’s a very talented young player.”
Ramirez, 22, is considered a serious power prospect but a questionable defensive record. He hit .290 with 16 homers in 58 games at Double-A Somerset before hitting .224 with four homers in 29 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He also spent time at first base and as a DH.
Chisholm Jr., 26, is ranked No. 16 overall and No. 9 among available bats on The Athletics Top 50 trade deadline big board. He hit .249 with 13 homers, 50 RBIs and a .730 OPS through 386 plate appearances.
Play that smooth Jazz.
Welcome to Pinstripes, @j_chisholm3 🔥 photo.twitter.com/M9GYWnsddW
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 27, 2024
It’s unclear how the Yankees will use Chisholm Jr.. Aaron Judge likely will remain the team’s starting center fielder when Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) returns from the injured list on Monday and assumes the DH role. The team could use Chisholm Jr. with current starting second baseman Gleyber Torres, who bats right field. Chisholm Jr. bats left field.
Chisholm Jr. never played third base in the majors or minors. But he emerged as a shortstop and is considered a capable fielder at second base. With DJ LeMahieu’s struggles well-documented, the question remains whether Chisholm Jr. can handle the challenge of learning third base on the fly.
On Saturday, LeMahieu was not in the starting lineup for the second straight game against a right-handed pitcher, with Oswaldo Cabrera starting at third base instead.
The Yankees would likely use Chisholm Jr. at second base longer. Torres will be a free agent at the end of the season. Chisholm Jr. won’t hit free agency until after the 2026 campaign.
The Yankees could also trade Torres, who is in the midst of a terrible season but has been on the rise lately. Overall, he has hit just .237 with 10 homers, 37 RBIs and a .681 OPS — good for a 92 OPS+. But Torres — a two-time All-Star — has hit .329 with an .899 OPS in his last 19 games.
Boone’s club is also looking for a consistent leadoff hitter, rotating the underperforming Anthony Volpe, LeMahieu, Verdugo and Torres. Chisholm Jr. should fill that void. He has a career .732 OPS from the leadoff position in 192 starts.
The Yankees are 27th in wRC+ from the leadoff position this season. Since moving Volpe from the top spot in their order, the Yankees have been looking for a permanent solution, but no one has emerged between Ben Rice, Verdugo and Torres. Chisholm Jr. has been slightly above-average at the plate this season, but he should hit better for Juan Soto and Judge.
Chisholm Jr.’s .320 on-base percentage would rank fourth on the Yankees. He also brings much-needed power to a team that hasn’t hit since Stanton injured his hamstring. According to Statcast, Chisholm Jr. would have 19 home runs this season if he played all of his games in Yankee Stadium. He also adds a speed element that the Yankees lack; Chisholm Jr. immediately becomes the team’s fastest player with an 87th percentile sprint speed.
One potential concern is whether Chisholm Jr. will fit into the locker room. This spring, he clashed with former teammate Miguel Rojas over Rojas’ leadership style. But the Yankees’ locker room has been able to absorb a few individualistic personalities of late, including Marcus Stroman and Alex Verdugo this season and Josh Donaldson last year.
(Top photo of Jazz Chisholm Jr.: Elsa/Getty Images)
