{"id":80683,"date":"2024-07-20T17:04:05","date_gmt":"2024-07-20T21:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=80683"},"modified":"2024-07-20T17:04:05","modified_gmt":"2024-07-20T21:04:05","slug":"pirates-inquired-jazz-chisholm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/20\/pirates-inquired-jazz-chisholm\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates Have Inquired About Versatile Marlins Star"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rumors are swirling that the Pittsburgh Pirates have discussed a possible trade for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chishja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jazz Chisholm Jr.<\/a> with the Miami Marlins. Reportedly, nothing is imminent. It\u2019s difficult to lay odds on whether anything will come of it. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is said to be working the phones on several trade fronts and is never forthcoming with any specific information.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Marlins insider <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CraigMish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@CraigMish<\/a> on <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/937theFan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@937thefan<\/a>: The Pirates and Marlins have had &#8220;exploratory trade discussions&#8221; on a Jazz Chisholm deal.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThePoniExpress\/status\/1814371229773578675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Pirates Have Inquired About Versatile Marlins Star Chisholm<\/h2>\n<p>The left-handed-batting Chisholm, 26, began his major league career as a second baseman. He&#8217;s been the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/08\/jazz-chisholm-trade-rumors\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">subject of trade rumors<\/a> virtually all season. The Marlins moved him to center field last year when they acquired <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/arraelu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luis Arr\u00e1ez<\/a>. At the close of Friday\u2019s action, Chisholm is batting .251\/.322\/.407 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI and has stolen 19 bases. Chisholm specializes in grand slams, as the Pirates and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/falteba01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bailey Falter<\/a> became painfully aware in April.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5TRT-K5c7vo?si=X0G6ZXk4IcPArCft\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Defensively, his advanced fielding statistics indicate he\u2019s a much better second baseman than he is a center fielder, although the Marlins have seemed happy with his outfield play.<\/p>\n<h3>Giant Steps<\/h3>\n<p>After finishing 76-86 in 2023, a marked 14-game improvement over 2022, the consensus was that the Pirates were projected at around 84 wins in 2024. Both Cherington and owner Bob Nutting were on record that 2024 would be the year the Bucs would contend. Their record is a somewhat disappointing 49-48 as of this writing. However, thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/20\/pirates-eight-starting-pitchers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">strong starting pitching<\/a> and a rather pedestrian National League, the Pirates are just one-half game out of a wild card spot. The record isn\u2019t better because the Pirates have one of the weakest offenses in baseball. The Bucs rank in the bottom third of the NL in just about every important offensive category. Thus, the Pirates and Chisholm look to be a good match, if only the teams would pull the trigger.<\/p>\n<h3>It Don&#8217;t Mean a Thing if Chisholm Ain&#8217;t Got His Swing<\/h3>\n<p>Of course, the Pirates would look to Chisholm mainly for his offense. His current level of performance should be sustainable, as it\u2019s not far off his career slash line of .247\/.309\/.440.<\/p>\n<p>The Pirates are using a platoon of left-handed-hitting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/suwinja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Suwinski<\/a> and veteran righty <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/taylomi02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael A. Taylor<\/a> in center field. That combination has given the Pirates the worst offense from that position in all of baseball. Taylor was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/02\/pirates-improvement-michael-a-taylor\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">never a high-average hitter<\/a>, but at least had shown some power despite a propensity for striking out. This year, however, he\u2019s hitting just .203\/.258\/.279, 2 HR, 13 RBI, and 53 OPS+. He\u2019s struck out 68 times in 172 at-bats. Suwinski is hitting .177\/.260\/.321, but with a team-fourth-best nine homers.<\/p>\n<p>Center field is clearly the spot where the Pirates would like to plug in Chisholm. However, right-handed-batting second baseman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gonzani01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Gonzales<\/a> has hit a bit of a rough patch lately, too. Since June 16, his average has dropped from .311 to .264. It\u2019s easy to imagine a scenario where Gonzales is platooning with Suwinski, with Chisholm starting in center field or at second base to accommodate the platoon. Manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/sheltde99.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Derek Shelton<\/a> likes to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/05\/02\/pirates-shelton-set-lineup\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">shuffle his lineup daily<\/a>, so this arrangement wouldn\u2019t be out of the question.<\/p>\n<h3>Tomorrow is the Question<\/h3>\n<p>In return for Chisholm, it\u2019s been speculated the Marlins would accept a package of prospects. Their dual motivation would be to stock their farm system while shedding his future salary. He becomes eligible for arbitration in 2025 and free agency in 2027. His present salary is $2.625 million. Chisholm won\u2019t command <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/ohtansh01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a>-type money, but it will be more than the cost-conscious Marlins would be interested in paying for a player who may be gone by the time they\u2019re rebuilt into a contender. While the Pirates are equally cost-conscious, whatever Chisholm is awarded in arbitration shouldn\u2019t be distasteful to them.<\/p>\n<p>However, Cherington must weigh what he gives up against the likelihood that Chisholm may be in Pittsburgh for just two more years after 2024. The Marlins understand that side of it, too. Thus, they won\u2019t be asking for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=chandl002roy&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bubba Chandler<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=johnso008ter&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-20_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Termarr Johnson<\/a>, both of whom appeared in the recent <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/02\/pirates-chandler-johnson-futures-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Futures Game<\/a>. A package of lower-ranked prospects from Single-A or Double-A might do it.<\/p>\n<p>Then again, two-and-a-half years can be a long time in baseball. For the Pirates, Chisholm would be better than a player whose contract expires at the end of this season. For two teams always with an eye to the future, the deal makes sense.<\/p>\n<h3>A Love Supreme<\/h3>\n<p>While Cherington has stated that \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/01\/pirates-activate-bart-cherington-comments\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">internal improvement<\/a>\u201d may be preferable to a trade to help the offense, it\u2019s time to guarantee that improvement with a trade acquisition. Although it doesn\u2019t always translate into the attendance figures, the fan base has been loyal through thick and thin, mostly thin in recent years. The enthusiasm at PNC Park (if not among the internet trolls) has been palpable in recent days. Friday night\u2019s game against the Philadelphia Phillies was sold out, as is Saturday\u2019s game. Undoubtedly, some of that is attributable to well-traveling Phillies fans, but it\u2019s still a testament to Pittsburgh. It will be interesting to see what Cherington has up his sleeve.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Photo Credit: \u00a9 Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rumors are swirling that the Pittsburgh Pirates have discussed a possible trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr. with the Miami Marlins. Reportedly, nothing is imminent. It\u2019s difficult to lay odds on whether anything will come of it. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is said to be working the phones on several trade fronts and is never [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":80704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1071],"tags":[3215,3160,5720,2988,5149,71,6136,3605,2178,5779],"class_list":["post-80683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pirates","category-mlb","tag-ben-cherington","tag-derek-shelton","tag-jack-suwinski","tag-jazz-chisholm","tag-jazz-chisholm-jr","tag-miami-marlins","tag-michael-a-taylor","tag-nick-gonzales","tag-shohei-ohtani","tag-termarr-johnson"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}