The Toronto Blue Jays struggled to bring in a standout left-handed hitter in the offseason. in Shohei Ohtani, but they might have another chance at a lefty before the trade deadline as the Miami Marlins now seem likely to listen to offers for outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Considering that possibility, Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report has suggested a trade to bring Chisholm to Toronto in exchange for former All-MLB first team pitcher Alek Manoah, shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, and infield/outfield prospect Addison Barger.
“Chisholm wouldn’t fit the Blue Jays in center field, where (Daulton) Varsho (.797 OPS) has been getting more starts over Kevin Kiermaier (.520 OPS) of late,” Rymer noted. “But there’d be a spot for him at second base, where (Craig) Biggio is hitting just .232 with one homer in 21 games. Besides, the Blue Jays need Chisholm’s energy. If we’re talking sheer charisma, he’s up there with any player in MLB.”
The Toronto Blue Jays Might Give Alek Manoah a Change of Scenery for Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Regarding the package heading back to the Marlins, the key piece in this suggested deal would be Manoah, who was recently one of MLB’s top pitchers, earning rookie of the year votes in 2021 and receiving an All-Star bid, Cy Young votes, and MVP votes in 2022. However, his career took a sudden turn in 2023 as he recorded a 5.87 ERA in 19 starts before being sidelined with shoulder soreness.
He has not performed any better this season, with a 13.50 ERA in just four innings pitched.
“It just keeps becoming more apparent that Manoah needs a change of scenery,” Rymer noted. “In this scenario, he’d return home. He’s from Homestead, which is only about a 45-minute drive from Miami. He’d clearly be a project for the Marlins.”
Finishing off the package, Nimmala is the third-highest rated prospect for the Blue Jays . He is a former first-round pick with high power potential. Barger is the team’ssixth-ranked prospect , with the ability to play in the outfield, at third base and shortstop, possessing an exceptional arm. Although they show potential, this proposal would secure Chisholm without the Blue Jays giving up their most promising youngsters.“Neither Nimmala nor Barger is a guaranteed success,” Rymer reported. “(The Marlins) would be better off obtaining left-hander Ricky Tiedemann or infielder Orelvis Martiniez, and it’s hard to imagine Toronto letting either go.”
The Toronto Blue Jays May Not Be Trade Deadline Buyers
While Chisholm has the potential to inject some life into a struggling Blue Jays lineup, he might not earn the Marlins a significant return. He’s
currently hitting at a rate of .243/.322/.412 in 136 at bats so far this season, slightly lower than his career averages. And although he’s eligible for arbitration for two more seasons, he will be a free agent after this year. Ultimately, the Blue Jays might not have to give up too much to acquire Chisholm, as the Marlins are
actively seeking to trade their players for prospects . However, Toronto’s front office will need to decide if they want to be buyers in the middle of a disappointing season.“I'm keeping a close eye on Toronto because they appear to be at a crucial point,” said MLB insider Ken Rosenthal on an episode of “Foul Territory.” “At some stage, this team must either improve their performance or make tough choices about their players.”
Foul Territory.” “At some point, this team either needs to play better or needs to make some hard decisions on the players that they have.”A new trade proposal suggests that the Toronto Blue Jays would trade Alek Manoah and two top prospects to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Jazz Chisholm Jr.
