Jazz Chisholm Jr. he's one of the more interesting position players likely to leave at the end of the month. The Yankees, Royals and Mariners have all been linked to the Miami center fielder/second baseman. Pirates have also been loosened by the ax as they may enter Chisholm.
Craig Mish of the Miami Herald and SportsGrid appeared on 93.7 The Fan this afternoon (YouTube link, starts around 9:27). Mish said Pittsburgh and Miami have indeed discussed Chisholm, though he described those talks as “exploratory” in nature. According to Mish, several teams outside of Pittsburgh have expressed significant interest at this point. While it's clear nothing will happen, Chisholm is on Pittsburgh's radar to some extent as the Bucs look to add offense.
Chisholm's defensive versatility makes him a viable asset for many teams. He played center field back at the start of the 2023 season. Miami gave him a start at second base last weekend for the first time since 2022. Chisholm was back in center for tonight's series opener against the Mets.
The 26-year-old can join teams looking for help in any position. The Pirates haven't found much outside of center field or in the secondary. Pittsburgh's center fielders entered tonight's play with a terrible .206/.267/.297 line against the Cardinals' offensive output. Michael A. Taylor he's still a solid outfielder but is having the worst season of his career, hitting .203/.258/.279 in 73 games.
Pittsburgh hasn't been much better at second base. They've hit .253/.315/.349 out of the position. Nick Gonzales started the season well after being called up in May. The former seventh overall pick has hit a .240/.269/.349 line in 156 plate appearances since the start of June. Gonzales hit a walk-off in the evening to close out an 8-7 victory over the Phillies, but he was ineffective heading into the All-Star Break.
Tonight's win pushed the Pirates over .500 at 49-48. They are a game back of the Mets and Diamondbacks, who are tied for the last National League Wild Card spot. Pittsburgh is in position to add at the deadline for the first time in years, though it's unclear how much GM Ben Cherington is willing to clear up their farm system. As Darragh McDonald examined part of the Front Office roster on Wednesday, the Bucs have plenty of depth in the rotation. Miami won't want to jumpstart the Chisholm deal — Mish suggests the Marlins could turn prospects two to three years away from the big leagues — but the Bucs' depth could free them up for a deal or two. the case. Chisholm is hitting .251/.322/.407 and is subject to arbitration in 2026.
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