Recently, all aspects of the Philadelphia Phillies’ game seem to be operating smoothly, propelling them to the top spot in baseball with a stellar record of 26-12. However, despite this success, there’s a lingering concern: the outfield.
Nick Castellanos is enduring one of the worst starts of his career, though he’s showing signs of improvement. Brandon Marsh has cooled off after a strong start, and while Johan Rojas has picked up his performance lately, he struggled at the plate initially. With the outfield’s inconsistency, it could become a potential weakness as the season progresses.
Therefore, the Phillies might consider seeking a solid solution before the trade deadline to strengthen their outfield and ensure it remains a strong point for the postseason push.
Could the Phillies find their ideal trade target within the division?
Interestingly, the Phillies’ potential trade target might already be within their own division. That player is Jazz Chisholm Jr., an outfielder for the Miami Marlins. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Marlins, currently struggling at 10-29, have initiated a fire sale following their recent trade of former batting champ Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres.
As their top all-around player, Chisholm could fetch significant value in a trade. Nightengale reports that numerous baseball executives anticipate Chisholm being moved.
“Several baseball executives insist that Chisholm, who is under team control until 2027, will be dealt in the months to come,” Nightengale writes.
What would Jazz Chisholm Jr. bring to the Phillies?
Lead us off, @j_chisholm3. pic.twitter.com/XkM2ETK49u
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) May 8, 2024
Chisholm possesses an exceptional blend of speed and power. Throughout his five-year MLB career, he has averaged 27 home runs, 83 RBI, and 32 stolen bases over a 162-game schedule. Additionally, he offers versatility beyond the outfield, having previously played shortstop and second base in the MLB. At 26 years old, he would provide valuable depth across multiple positions.
Defensively, Chisholm boasts a career .989 fielding percentage as an outfielder and .969 overall at all positions, making him reliable defensively in various roles.
At the plate, Chisholm, a left-handed hitter, is batting .236 with a .714 OPS, five home runs, and eight steals in 38 games this season. He’s showing improved plate discipline, striking out less and walking more. Last season, in just 97 games, he posted a .250 batting average with a .761 OPS, 19 home runs, and 22 stolen bases.
Furthermore, Chisholm comes with a team-friendly $2.6 million salary this year and is under team control through the 2026 season.
While teams are typically cautious about trading within their division, especially to a rival, acquiring a potential game-changer like Chisholm could be worth the risk for the Phillies, both for the current season and the future, come the trade deadline or possibly sooner.
