The Chicago White Sox were mentioned as a possible landing spot for Jazz Chisholm, but after a position change and the Luis Arraez trade, that may be out the window.
Jazz Chisholm can be an elite player when healthy, as his rare combination of bat speed through the zone and his electric nature on the basepaths made him one of the best middle infielders in the game.
Yet, the Marlins have played with fire, acquiring batting champion Luis Arraez from the Minnesota Twins. In doing so, some thought they would anger Chisholm, and prompt a move out of town.
That’s been anything but the case. General manager Kim Ng mentioned that she expects to move Chisholm to the outfield, with the player’s blessing.
“It is something we talked about last year,” former Marlins manager Don Mattingly wrote in a text. “I personally think Jazz can do it if he puts his mind to it. And Jazz thinks he can do it. He believes he can do anything!!!”
White Sox: Jazz Chisholm trade talks put to bed
With Jazz Chisholm’s sprint speed and experience playing in the outfield, perhaps trading him isn’t in Miami’s grand plan, after all. The Marlins added Skip Schumaker from the St. Louis Cardinals as manager this offseason, and are closer to contention than most realize. The trade for Arraez is more proof of that very fact.
Arraez edged out Aaron Judge for last year’s batting title, preventing him from adding a triple crown to his 2022 mantle. At just 26 years of age, it was a surprising season from Arraez, whose limited infield range likely projects him as a long-term second baseman.
Some in the industry, per Ken Rosenthal, believe Ng overpaid for Arraez — but his bat says otherwise. If Chisholm signs on and stays invested, teams like the White Sox which once predicted disfunction in such a situation will be kicking themselves for waiting.