The Marlins signaled their intention to be sellers over two months ago with the unexpected early trade of Luis Arraez. As the July 30 trade deadline nears, their activity in the trade market is expected to increase.
While much attention has been on closer Tanner Scott, a pending free agent, Craig Mish of SportsGrid and the Miami Herald reports a “growing belief” that Jazz Chisholm Jr. may also be traded. Mish identifies the Mariners as a key team to watch if Chisholm is moved, and also mentions the Pirates and Royals as potential bidders.
Chisholm, 26, is having a strong season, hitting .255/.326/.407 (105 wRC+) with 10 home runs and 17 steals. Although he has struggled with strikeouts in the past, his current rate of 24.9% is an improvement from the 29.2% rate he had over the previous four seasons. He has also achieved a career-best walk rate of 8.8%.
Chisholm’s raw talent and star potential are undeniable, as he averages 26 home runs and 32 steals per 162 games. However, he has never played more than 124 games in a season and has only exceeded 400 plate appearances once in his major league career due to frequent injuries. Since becoming a regular in 2021, he has missed time with a shoulder injury, a back strain (requiring a 60-day IL stint), turf toe, and an oblique strain.
Chisholm is earning an affordable $2.625M this season and is under team control for two more years. He has primarily played center field for the Marlins over the past two seasons out of necessity, as the team has struggled to develop or acquire a controllable center fielder. Initially a shortstop who moved to second base, Chisholm transitioned to center field last year with mixed defensive reviews. He was a plus defender in over 1,300 innings at second base before moving to the outfield.
All three teams mentioned by Mish are logical fits for a Chisholm trade.
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has expressed a desire to add a versatile bat capable of playing both infield and outfield, which Chisholm would fulfill. The Royals’ lineup is predominantly right-handed, with Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez as their best hitters. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and second baseman Michael Massey are the only left-handed hitters on the roster with above-average production by wRC+.
The Pirates have received below-average offensive production from second base this season. Since his call-up, former first-round pick Nick Gonzales has been roughly league-average offensively (.269/.307/.414, 99 wRC+), but he performs better against lefties than righties. Pittsburgh’s outfielders have combined for a .227/.299/.352 batting line this season, and Chisholm could provide an offensive boost in either role.
The Mariners, leading the AL West, have also struggled with production from both the outfield and second base. The acquisition of Jorge Polanco was expected to stabilize second base, but his performance has declined dramatically, hitting just .189/.280/.284 with a 33.6% strikeout rate in 214 plate appearances. The Mariners’ outfielders have a collective batting line of .230/.285/.365.
Given Chisholm’s remaining two and a half years of club control, affordable salary, and productive season showcasing his blend of speed and power, he is expected to command a high price. Mish suggests that if the Marlins don’t receive an acceptable offer by the deadline, a trade could happen in the offseason. Even some current non-contenders might pursue Chisholm now or in the offseason as they plan for the 2025 campaign and beyond.