Trade for star Marlins outfielder should give Yankees much-needed energy boost

With their slump going on for more than a month now, the New York Yankees were in need of something to give their roster a jolt of energy to wake it up. They may have received that jolt on Saturday afternoon when their front office finally made a trade.

The Yankees are reportedly finalizing acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three prospects, adding another bat to a lineup that has desperately needed some additional depth.

Chisholm not only brings some speed, excitement and occasional power to the Yankees lineup, he also offers some flexibility in his ability to play both the infield and outfield. New York Post baseball insider Jon Heyman reported earlier this week that Chisholm — who has been playing center field for the Marlins — might prefer a switch back to the infield . The Yankees could potentially play him at second base, shift Gleyber Torres to third base and send the struggling DJ LeMahieu to the bench.

Those moves, combined with the pending return of designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, might finally help the Yankees break themselves out of this slide.

Or at least create the potential for it.

After starting the season with one of the league's best records (49-21 through 70 games) the Yankees have gone just 11-24 over their past 35 games.

The pitching staff has regressed, while the offense has been completely dependent on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto to carry it. As great as they are, there is only so much that two players can do on their own.

Chisholm might not be perfect, but he has been a consistently above average major league hitter (OPS+ of 100 or better in three consecutive seasons) and as a left-handed bat could see a power boost in Yankee Stadium.

He is arbitration-eligible after this season and is not slated to hit free agency until 2027. The Yankees are playing a weekend series in Boston and trying to keep some distance between them and the Red Sox in the standings.