With the Yankees losing 24 out of their last 36 games, acquiring a good prospect was the need of the hour. Especially for a team relying heavily on Judge and Soto, there was a need for an outfielder who could support the legendary duo. Nevertheless, with the signing of Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Pinstripes might be looking for a complete overhaul. Eventually, on Saturday afternoon, the Yankees acquired Jazz from the Miami Marlins. 

Perhaps the Bronx Bombers had to trade three of their prospects, namely catcher Agustin Ramirez and two minor league fielders, Abrahan Ramirez and Jared Serna, to get Chisholm Jr. Also, with Chisholm known to play at second base and center field, it might have put Gleyber Torres under slight pressure. Still, from his end, Gleyber Torres had diverse opinions on Jazz’s addition to the New York Yankees roster. 

Gleyber Torres expressed his thoughts on the Jazz Chisholm Jr. Yankees’ arrival

Undoubtedly, Torres, who found his form recently, has been slacking since 2020. Reflecting on Chisholm being a part of the Yankees, Torres said, “I think the front office did a really good job. Every good player come into the little thing for help, for the team to win, always working for us.” Indeed, Jazz Chisholm Jr. in 2024 has played a vital role. He is smashing at .249/.323/.407 with 13 home runs and has an impressive 50 RBI in 2024. Also, Jazz offers speed and power, and his versatility to play at different positions might have compelled the Yankees to get him. 

Further, regarding Gleyber Torres’s future with the Yankees regarding the second base, he replied, “No, nothing yet.” Looking at the last 18 games before getting benched, Gleyber Torres’s struggle seemed imminent. He was slashing just at .159/.247/.318/.564, and being unreliable in the field, the Yankees had to find another way out. 

However, since his return after a slump, Torres has hit 15 in the last 19 games he played for the Yanks. Nevertheless, Torres still has a few months left with the Yankees, and if he can continue his form, he could keep his spot. 

Besides Torres, Alex Verdugo’s position might also be under the radar. The 28-year-old Yankees outfielder has yet to get back to his form. In July, he hit an average of .178, sliding down from his .219 batting average in June. Also, against the Baltimore Orioles, Verdugo committed a horrendous error in the left field.

Eventually, the blunder led to a walk-off win for the Orioles at the mega All-Star break event. Perhaps, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. bringing his versatile fielding capabilities, his addition could change the Yankees’ fielding dynamics. 

Chisholm’s addition and the New York Yankees lineup saga

Looking at Chisholm’s overall records, he could be the guy the Yankees have been searching for for a long time. He has a career OPS of 102, and with a career-high record of stolen bases in 2024, Jazz could fit in perfectly for the Bronx. Browsing the first scenario and seeing recent stats, one can assume that Chisholm is a better player than Torres. If the Yankees moved Chisholm to the second baseman position, Gleyber would not have a place on the team. 

Also, if the Yanks keep Jazz in the outfield, Aaron Judge can move to the right field and shift Soto toward the left. This can give the Yankees the freedom to rotate Jasson Dominguez or Trent Grisham whenever they need to DH Judge. However, with this field placement, Alex Verdugo’s place could be gone since Chisholm could control the center field. Even more, if the Yankees plan to use Chisholm at second base and center, it could free two spots. Then, there’s a possibility that Dominguez and Stanton could replace Verdugo and Torres in the lineup.

Eventually, the Yankees might take some time to fit in Chisholm at the right spot. However, there’s another fact: Verdugo and Torres are in 2024 arbitration, increasing their vulnerability to the team. Also, among the recent failures of the Yankees, both Gleyber and Verdugo had quite a few blunders. Lastly, seeing their competition, Jazz Chisholm Jr. brings versatility to the field. Hence, his addition might unexpectedly transform the New York Yankees’ strategy for the remaining 2024 MLB season.