The New York Yankees made a significant move to bolster their struggling team by acquiring Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three minor leaguers: catcher Agustín Ramírez, infielder Jared Serna, and infielder Abrahan Ramírez. The Yankees, who entered Saturday with a 10-23 record, have been facing challenges with starting pitching, bullpen issues, and an offense heavily reliant on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto due to injuries to Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo. DJ LeMahieu and Alex Verdugo have been struggling at the plate.
Chisholm, a 26-year-old All-Star second baseman in 2022, has primarily played center field in the past two seasons. He brings versatility, speed, and power to the Yankees lineup, with a batting average of .249, 13 homers, and 50 RBIs this season. Chisholm has a career batting average of .246 with 66 homers and 205 RBIs over five seasons, along with 22 stolen bases.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Chisholm's talent, athleticism, and versatility, highlighting his ability to play multiple positions. Chisholm, who has a salary of $2,625,000, is under arbitration until 2025 and can become a free agent after the 2026 season.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker acknowledged Chisholm's contributions to the team, emphasizing his willingness to adapt to different positions and situations. The Marlins received promising young players in return for Chisholm, including Agustín Ramírez, Jared Serna, and Abrahan Ramírez.
Meanwhile, LeMahieu, a two-time batting champion, has struggled this season after returning from injury, hitting .178 with one homer and 12 RBIs. Verdugo's performance has also declined, with a batting average of .160 since mid-June. Rookie Ben Rice has faced challenges at the plate, going 4 for 50 after a standout performance in July.
The addition of Chisholm is expected to provide a boost to the Yankees lineup, complementing the talents of Judge and Soto. The trade signifies the Yankees' commitment to improving their roster and competitiveness in the league.
