Pirates Rumors: NL contender backing off Jazz Chisholm could pave way for trade

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported earlier this week that the Philadelphia Phillies, who had previously shown interest in picking up Jazz Chisholm Jr., now have "no interest" in the Miami Marlins outfielder.

This could be good news for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are in desperate need of offensive production, specifically from their outfielders. At just 26 years old with a career slash line of .247/.310/.441 over five seasons, Chisholm could be the answer to their prayers – but he will come at a steep price.

With so few teams emerging as actual sellers at this year's trade deadline, Chisholm is one of few options on a relatively sparse trade market. His defensive flexibility makes him a viable target for a lot of teams, as he can be an impact player at both second base and center field. As such, the Marlins will undoubtedly set his price point high as they field offers from multiple suitors.

MLB insider bullish on Jazz Chisholm's potential impact if traded to Pirates

The Pirates have the ammunition to go and get Chisholm. But should they?

Former MLB general manager certainly Jim Bowden thinks so, going so far as to say that Chisholm should be the club's "top target" at the trade deadline. In a recent Q&A for The Athletic, Bowden noted that Chisholm would be a nice fit for the Pirates in center field and that his "power-speed combination" could provide a spark to Pittsburgh's sputtering offense.

Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reported last week that Pittsburgh and Miami had engaged in "exploratory" talks on Chisholm but also noted that the Pirates were one of several teams that had expressed serious interest up to that point.

According to Mish, the Marlins aren't necessarily going to look for immediate starting pitching in a trade package for Chisholm and will likely target prospects who are 2-3 years away from the major leagues. The Pirates have a farm system stacked with pitchers who fit that description.

What the Pirates don't have are reliable, big-league hitters. Enter Chisholm, who is slashing .251/.325/.412 and is under club control through 2026. It's hard to argue that a trade wouldn't make sense for both teams.

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