Ex-Miami president blasts Chisholm, Yankees stand by their due diligence

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The Yankees’ new acquisition Jazz Chisholm Jr is on a roll and the team has every reason to see him as a potential catalyst for success. However, David Samson, who served as president of the Marlins from 2002 to 2017, criticized the player as a hype and questioned his potential for the pinstripes. However, the Yankees are confident of their pre-trade research about Chisholm and his suitability for the team.

On “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Samson labeled the Yankees’ latest acquisition as “average,” despite the player’s rising popularity among Yankees fans. He suggested that Chisholm’s visibility, including his feature on the cover of MLB The Show 23, was largely due to the influence of Derek Jeter. Samson dismissed the notion that Jeter was Chisholm’s idol as unfounded.

Samson also admitted to a bias toward hoping for the failure of players he had traded during his tenure.

The former executive stated that Chisholm’s move to the Yankees was a necessary transaction but expressed indifference towards the player’s future performance. He warned that Chisholm’s strong early performances might lead to inflated expectations and noted that any subsequent struggles would be under intense scrutiny in New York compared to Miami.

“I know you’re excited about him because he was on the front of [MLB The Show 23],” Samson said. “That was all [Derek] Jeter doing that. All the talk of Jeter being his idol, it was all ridiculousness. Jazz needed to be traded off this team, and the fact that he was given to the Yankees, whatever happens with the Yankees is fine. He’s not the star; he’s not the center of attention. “He’s gotten off to a good start, and that’s going to maybe give him the false sense that he’s the center of some amount of attention. But wait ’til he goes 1-for-13 in New York. In Miami, it gets ignored with one camera. In New York, you’re on the back page of The Post. So be careful what you wish for.”

Samson’s perspective aligns with a broader sentiment; an MLB player poll published in The Athletic ranked Chisholm as the most overrated player in baseball, based on responses from 59 players across the league.

It’s important to note that Samson’s tenure with the Marlins concluded before Chisholm joined the organization in 2019, so his opinions are not informed by direct experience with the player.

Samson had earlier criticized Jazz Chisholm Jr. for remarks about ex-teammate Miguel Rojas on a podcast. However, the player has rapidly endeared himself to Yankees fans with a historic start. The newcomer hit four home runs in his first three games with the Yankees, a milestone unmatched in the franchise’s history. He added to his impressive debut with another hit and a run scored in Wednesday’s win over the Phillies.

Yankees’ Cashman unfazed by Chisholm criticism

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman expressed confidence in Chisholm’s fit with the team, noting that extensive research was conducted before the trade. Cashman praised Chisholm’s athleticism and enthusiastic approach to the game, indicating that their thorough assessment affirmed Chisholm would blend well with the team. He also emphasized that Chisholm is seen as a valuable asset for manager Aaron Boone to leverage effectively.

“We did a lot of research on him and we’re excited to have him,” the Yankees GM responded. “He’s obviously very athletic and he plays the game with joy. Ultimately after our deep dive, we felt like he’d fit in really well and would be a really perfect piece to allow our manager Aaron Boone to deploy him.” 

Cashman also did not disclose whether he consulted Yankees legend Derek Jeter during the decision to acquire Chisholm from the Marlins. Jeter, who was CEO and minority owner of the Marlins for much of Chisholm’s time there, was not mentioned in Cashman’s overview of the acquisition process.

The Yankees’ GM did confirm that the Yankees conducted an extensive evaluation of Chisholm before finalizing the trade. Despite Chisholm’s reputation for a strong personality and some reported friction with teammates and staff in Miami, including a notable clash with veteran Miguel Rojas, Cashman expressed optimism about Chisholm’s fit with the team.

Cashman praised Chisholm’s athleticism and energetic approach to the game, noting that the evaluation process indicated he would integrate well with the Yankees. Chisholm has made an immediate impact, notably hitting four home runs in his first three games with the Yankees, bringing a fresh dynamic to the squad.

Cashman revealed that the Yankees acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. without knowing how he would react to playing third base, a position he had not professionally played before joining the team. Cashman expressed admiration for Chisholm’s willingness to adapt and try new positions for the team’s benefit. He noted Chisholm’s impressive performance at third base, attributing it to his athleticism and fearless attitude.

The general manager highlighted Chisholm’s readiness to embrace uncomfortable situations in a pennant-race environment, viewing it as a testament to his character and daily work ethic. Cashman emphasized the importance of this flexibility and team-first mentality.

“It’s nice to know that when he got here, it was, ‘Whatever it takes, I’ll try it, whatever you guys need, I just want to win,’ ” he said. “And wow, he looks really good there. That speaks to his athleticism. In terms of the attitude of willingness to do whatever it takes and be fearless — in a pennant-race environment of trying to do anything and everything, even if it puts you in an uncomfortable spot — it speaks a lot to who he is and how he goes about his business on a daily basis.” 

While Chisholm had expressed that joining Derek Jeter’s former team felt appropriate, Cashman remained discreet about whether Jeter had been involved in the evaluation process. He explained that the organization’s approach involves gathering intelligence from various sources, including scouts, front-office personnel, coaches, and connections within other organizations.

“Anybody that our organization could align ourselves with to find as much intel as we could on any of these players — that’s what you do,” the Yankees GM explained. “You wind up doing deep dives that your scouts, your front office, coaches, the people in [other] organizations that they’re friendly with or managers making phone calls to people, whether their counterparts — it was going both ways. You utilize your connections to the fullest degree possible so you try to put yourself in the best position to understand not just the talent evaluation but the people as well.”

But his silence and Chisholm’s respect for Derek Jeter left a cue about the potential role of the Yankees legend in getting the trade done.

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