Jazz Chisholm set to be in next Marlins trade after Luis Arraez deal

Fresh off of an exciting return to the playoffs, the Miami Marlins are absolutely terrible and trading away their good players. That’s the only constant the Fish have had over the years: ending the good times abruptly and taking a while to get back there.

Luis Arraez was traded to the San Diego Padres for a return that doesn’t stack up to what the Marlins traded to the Minnesota Twins to get Arraez (high-end starting pitcher Pablo Lopez and two minor-league prospects). Trade rumors popped before the season that have now come true. It’s only a matter of time before Miami sends off more of its key players in an attempt to at least stuff its farm system and pretend it’s building toward something legitimate.

The next player to be traded in the latest Marlins fire sale is likely to be Jazz Chisholm Jr., according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports.

Nightengale pointed to Chisholm as the Marlins’ “best all-around player who has the most trade value. Several baseball executives insist that Chisholm, who is under team control until 2027, will be dealt in the months to come.”

Jazz Chisholm Jr. on Marlins’ trade block after Luis Arraez deal

Chisholm is having a great season by 2023 Marlins standards but a middling season by normal MLB standards. He’s batting .226 with an OPS+ of 96, 18 RBI and five stolen bases. Although he’s fast and has played solid defense in previous seasons, his hitting is much less consistent. His ability to barrel up the ball and avoid weak contact is undermined by his lack of discipline.

The versatility Chisholm offers as someone who has played second base and center field makes him a more appealing trade target. While he’s not built to be in the heart of a lineup, he can still play a part on a good team by being an occasional extra-base hit threat and player to watch for on the base paths. He could also be a great platoon option; his hitting against right-handed pitching has been excellent (.883 OPS across the last two seasons) but his production against lefties is rough (.490 OPS across the last two seasons).

Teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners could reasonably roll the dice on Chisholm and see if the 26-year-old is worth keeping around as an outfield or utility option. Wherever Chisholm heads next is bound to be more optimistic than the Marlins. The same goes for Josh Bell, Jake Burger, Jesus Luzardo, Tanner Scott and anyone else who Miami will trade in the coming months.

After securing a Wild Card berth and making the postseason in a non-shortened season for the first time since 2003, the Marlins are currently one of three teams that have yet to win 10 games and general manager Peter Bendix — who they replaced their previous GM with after she managed to build a winning team — admitted that they are unlikely to be in the playoffs. After he said that, the Oakland Athletics beat Miami 20-4.

At least they’re not the Chicago White Sox? That’s good, right?