Since taking over as general manager in 1998, Brian Cashman has made a number of impactful trade deadline deals. Sure, his aggressive mentality has hurt the New York Yankees at times, but numerous players have been great. However, one of his most recent trade deadline acquisitions is making his case as Brian Cashman’s best.
Acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, the Miami Marlins sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to New York in exchange for prospects Agustin Ramirez, Jared Serna, and Abraham Ramirez. At the time, he was a flashy infielder who couldn’t stay healthy. This seemed like a recipe for disaster, as many players crumble under the bright lights of New York.
However, a year into his stint in the Bronx, Chisholm is defying every expectation. In just 46 games with New York in 2024, he hit 11 home runs with a 1.5 WAR, leaving Yankees fans excited about what he could do in a full season. And in that full season, he’s been arguably the best second baseman in the league. In fact, with two more home runs and four more stolen bases, Chisholm would become the first Yankee with a 30-30 season since Alfonso Soriano in 2003. However, despite his pinstripe success, a few other guys might have him bested.
A Multi-Time Champ
After winning the Cy Young in 1994 with his hometown Kansas City Royals, David Cone spent half of the following season with the Toronto Blue Jays before a trade landed him in New York. In the ensuing half-decade he spent in the Bronx, Cone won four World Series titles, while consistently being one of the best pitchers in baseball. He even threw a perfect game in 1999, cementing himself as an all-time great Yankee.
A Dependable Bat
Despite being acquired halfway through the 2000 season from the then-Cleveland Indians, David Justice fit like a glove in New York. In 78 games with New York that season, Justice mashed 20 home runs with a .305 average. He won the ALCS MVP award that same year and capped it all off with a championship. He spent just one season with the Yankees afterwards, but while his time in New York was short-lived, it was certainly impactful.
An Everyday Infielder
The player whom Chisholm eventually replaced, Gleyber Torres was a mainstay in the Yankees’ infield from 2018 to 2024. New York acquired Torres at the 2016 trade deadline, but he broke out in 2019 with a 38-homer season. Unfortunately, Torres never quite reached that same level of production again. However, his infield versatility and above-average power made him both impactful in the field and at the plate.
Chisholm’s Place
At the end of the day, Chisholm is only in his second season with the Yankees. He’s been great, but it would be unfair to put him above the guys mentioned above. After all, Cone and Justice both won championships. In the Bronx, postseason performance, or lack thereof, forges your reputation. So with a strong October, Chisholm could certainly climb these ranks.
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Interesting article. Don’t realize they had so many quality mid-year pickups. So many of their work has been offseason free agency for so long.