Igniting a spark in the sluggish Yankees lineup, the Pinstripes acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. The trade was done with the Miami Marlins on Saturday, where the Yanks gave three players in exchange for one aspiring MLB star. Among the three players traded were minor league infielder Jared Serna, catcher Agustin Ramirez, and infielder Abrahan Ramirez. The New York Yankees have been on an arguably horrendous stretch in previous months.

The team’s past record of 51-22 is among the worst in MLB, whereas their dependency on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto is perennial. Also, injuries to Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizza imposed further setbacks on an already vulnerable Bronx lineup. However, with the arrival of Jazz Chisholm Jr., Aaron Judge and Co. seem to be happy. Sharing the Yankees’ excitement, the Yankees captain garnered a few words for the 26-year-old outfielder. 

Aaron Judge and Co. unveiled their heart-wrenching feelings for Jazz Chisholm Jr

With Jazz’s versatility in fielding combined with agility and throwing power, Judge seemed impressed with the lad’s performance. Sharing the Yankees camp and his feelings for the agile outfielder, Judge said, “Excited. He’s a dynamic player. Definitely throw him over there at the leadoff spot or wherever he’s going to definitely lengthen this lineup. He’s got speed. He’s got power. I know all of us in here are pretty excited to have him on board.”

Unsurprisingly, Chisholm’s performance perfectly syncs with the Yankees captain’s words. In the 2024 season, he is batting at an average of.249, has smacked 13 homers, and has an impressive RBI of 50. Also, in terms of his seasonal stats, Jazz is a .246 career average hitter and has unleashed 66 homers and 205 RBIs in the last five seasons. 

Besides Judge from the Bronx clubhouse, Yankees manager Aaron Boone also reflected on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s ability. Praising the young outfielder, Boone said, “We’re excited to get a talent like his. We think his skillset will play at Yankee Stadium. He’s got power. He’s got tremendous speed. He’s got position versatility. He obviously plays with a lot of energy and a lot of pizzazz. So, excited to get him, excited to see him fit in.”

Indeed, with Jazz’s versatility, the Yankees could experiment with him on the field. He plays the second base and center field positions, and the two have been an issue for the Yankees. Placing Chisholm in the center field could allow Judge to move toward the right and Soto to the left. This will bring Jasson Dominguez or Trent Grisham into play for Verudgo and Torres, who looked sluggish in 2024. 

Additionally, regarding the bases, the Yankees haven’t been a threat to most MLB teams. They have 43 steals and rank 29th in the MLB. On the contrary, if we look at Chisholm’s baserunning value, it’s 99 percentile as per Statcast. Overall, only eight players have stolen more bases than Jazz (22) in the 2024 MLB season. Still, with such impressive numbers, the Yankees must fit in Chisholm perfectly to reap his fine form benefits. 

Can the New York Yankees find their lost rhythm with Chisholm Jr.?

Although Jazz Chisholm’s numbers for the 2024 season don’t jump off the charts, he’s still at his best. He has been a savior for the Miami Marlins, delivering impeccable performances at the plate, on the bases, and in defense. Altogether, with a high OPS of .730 throughout 101 games in 2024, he could become a potential hitter for the Yankees after Judge and Soto. The Bronx Bombers need more firepower, and Jazz might be the perfect fit. 

Also, browsing his advanced stats, Chisholm has improved compared to previous years. In 2024, his WHIF rate will be down to just 28.6, the lowest in his career. Considering the performance of Jazz with the Marlins, he might think of replicating the same for the Pinstripes. Entering Saturday’s game, the Yankees offense was the lowest at.226 and had the second-worst on-base percentage at .278.

Eventually, whether Chisholm bats up or down the order for the New York Yankees, he will have shown his caliber. Being a clutch player, he has a combined batting average of.330 and a staggering OPS of 1.002. For the Bronx Bombers, second base might be the ideal spot for Jazz. Also, they could try Chisholm for third base or replace him with Gleyber Torres since the Yankees outfielder has been sluggish for four years. 

In the end, based on the current scenario, Torres will be a free agent after the current season. On the contrary, Chisholm will not hit free agency until the 2026 season. This makes him the top contender to take over the Yankees’ full-time second baseman once Torres finds a new club elsewhere. 

As our readers, what do you think about the trade of Jazz Chisholm Jr.? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!