5 outfielders the Pittsburgh Pirates should monitor on the trade market

Jazz Chisholm

The Miami Marlins made it clear they’re willing to sell on anyone for the right price. They have already traded two-time all-star and two-time batting champion Luis Arraez early in the year. Jazz Chisholm will likely be on the trading block this year if they were willing to move Arraez this early. 

Chisholm has gotten off to a good start to the year, batting .255/.330/.429 with a .332 wOBA and 115 wRC+. Chisholm has hit for above-average power with a .173 ISO and has already collected seven home runs in 218 plate appearances. But Chisholm’s plate discipline has been great. He has a career-best 9.2% walk rate while cutting his K% down significantly. He’s only K’d in 24.3% of his plate appearances, a massive step forward from 29.5% in 2022-2023.

Although Chisholm is chasing outside the zone more frequently, he’s not swinging and missing. His whiff rate clocks in at 27.1% compared to 35.7% last year. When he is swinging outside the zone, he is making contact 59.7% of the time, compared to 42.4% in 2023. Another major positive is that he hasn’t had to trade raw power for more contact. His 89.9 MPH exit velo and 41.3% hard-hit rate are both right around his career averages.

Chisholm moved from second base, where he was a plus defender, to center, where defensive metrics have been mixed on his work. Defensive runs saved is not kind to Chisholm in center field with -11. But outs above average pins him as a solid defender at +3. 

Chisholm is a solid batter, and while his defense hasn’t been great, it also hasn’t been bad either. Chisholm is a power bat who could provide some 20/20 seasons. He’s also young as he’s only in his age-26 season and is under control through the 2026 season, like Varsho.