A second major change likely coming for Marlins’ Chisholm. And more Arraez trade fallout

We will be seeing the Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. at a new position this year. But we likely won’t be seeing him in the World Baseball Classic.

He likely won’t compete in the WBC, according to sources, because he’s coming off a major injury and because he will spend the spring learning how to play center field. The event runs March 8 through March 21; loanDepot Park will host 15 of the games.

Though Chisholm would like to play in the WBC, it’s likely that the team and Chisholm ultimately will prioritize his preparation for the regular season by staying in Jupiter to work on playing center.

Chisholm missed the last three months of the season with a stress fracture in his back.

Under the WBC’s current rules, teams can block players from playing in the WBC if they spent 60 total days on the injured list during the most recent MLB season, including at least 15 of the final 60 days of the season.

Chisholm spent more than 100 days on the injured list last season, including the final 60.

The Braves are uneasy about allowing outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. to play in the WBC, and he missed the first few weeks of last season with a knee injury. Acuna told reporters last week that he probably won’t play, and it’s not his decision.

Chisholm, meanwhile, is embracing the move to center.

In a text exchange with Craig Mish, Chisholm said he told the Marlins that if they didn’t acquire a center fielder he would “Go out, play the position and win a Gold Glove.”

New Marlins manager Skip Schumaker tells us that new first base coach and former big-league outfielder Jon Jay will take the lead in helping Chisholm acclimate to playing center field. Former big-league outfielder Jon Mabry, the Marlins’ new assistant hitting coach, and Schumaker also will assist in that process.

Former Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre, who has been a regular presence at spring training, also might become involved.

While many believe Chisholm has the speed, range and athleticism to thrive in center, former Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin, now an MLB Network analyst, said: “Hate this move! Let him play short. Then they always want to say, ‘Oh, he’s just such a unique athlete.’ We know what that means!”

Why didn’t the Marlins trade for a center fielder instead of moving Chisholm there?

The Pirates seemed disinterested in dealing Bryan Reynolds, even though the center fielder asked for a trade.

And there was no other starting-quality center fielders of interest to the Marlins who became available in the trade market in recent weeks.

So for the third time in four years, the Marlins will move a player from his more natural position to center field. They did it in shifting second baseman Jonathan Villar to center field in 2020 and did it again when they tried corner outfielder Jesus Sanchez in center last season. Neither proved to be a long-term solution.

BACKGROUND ON ARRAEZ TRADE

The Marlins and Twins discussed the Luis Arraez deal as far back as early December, at the Winter meetings in San Diego.

The Twins held firm that they wanted shortstop Jose Salas, the Marlins’ No. 5 prospect, in any deal. The Marlins were initially reluctant to give up the package they ultimately sent to Minnesota (Pablo Lopez, Salas and minor-league outfielder Byron Chourio).

But after the Marlins were unable to reel in Jose Abreu, Justin Turner and Brandon Drury in free agency, they turned back to Minnesota, with options elsewhere dwindling.

Multiple people in the industry said the trade will help the Marlins this year, but the reaction was mixed about whether the Marlins gave up too much. That ultimately could come down to whether Salas becomes a big-league regular and whether Lopez can stay healthy.

It was very difficult for the Marlins to part with Salas, who hit .267 in 61 games at Low A Jupiter, .230 and 17 RBI in 48 games at High A Beloit (Wisconsin). Per MLB.com, the switch-hitting Salas “has a quick swing from both sides and recognizes pitches better than most hitters his age.”

But some inside the Marlins thought he wore down as the 2022 season progressed, and he didn’t stand out during the Arizona Fall League.

In the scouting community, there isn’t unanimity about whether Salas was even the Marlins’ best middle infield prospect.

Shortstop Kahlil Watson, the former first-round pick, is rated sixth among Marlins prospects, and the Marlins have four other middle infielders in their top 14 mlb.com prospect list: Yiddi Cappe 5th, Jacob Amaya 12th and Ian Lewis 14th.

Among the players added in the international market as teenagers, here’s one how MLB scout evaluated them after watching all three:

“To me, Cappe has the highest ceiling. He’s going to put on weight. Maybe he will grow out of shortstop, but I see him as a shortstop. He’s going to hit with enough power to be a starter on a good team. I would put Cappe behind only Eury Perez among their guys.

“Salas’ lower half is getting too big. I’m not sure about him. Ian Lewis is a middle infielder, a switch hitter with some power on both sides of the plate. I like him.”

With Chisholm moved to center, there will be an opportunity for Jordan Groshans, Amaya — and eventually — Watson, Cappe and Lewis to try to seize the Marlins shortstop job down the road.

Joey Wendle will open the season as the team’s starting shortstop, barring something unforeseen. The Marlins believe Amaya, acquired from the Dodgers for Miguel Rojas, will be in the big leagues at some point this season.

THIS AND THAT

As of Monday afternoon, the Marlins had stopped any aggressive pursuit of Astros free agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel.

Gurriel — who can play first, second and third — led the American League in batting at .319 in 2021 (with 15 homers and 81 RBI) but fell to .242 (.288 on-base), 8, HR, 53 RBI last season.

If the Marlins keep 12 pitchers, the 13 position players would be Chisholm, starting right fielder Avisail Garcia, Bryan De La Cruz, first baseman Garrett Cooper, designated hitter Jorge Soler, second baseman Arraez, Wendle, third baseman Jean Segura, Jon Berti and catchers Jacob Stallings and Nick Fortes.

That’s 11 players, leaving two spots for another outfielder (Jesus Sanchez) and another utility player (Grosans, Xavier Edwards or perhaps Garrett Hampson). It’s possible the Marlins could add another first baseman, but as of Monday, Gurriel did not seem likely.

Sanchez could end up platooning with De La Cruz if he has a good spring or if De La Cruz struggles this spring.

Don’t discount Hampson, who can play center field, second and shortstop. He was non-tendered by the Rockies after hitting .211, 287 on base, two homers, 15 RBI in 199 at-bats last season. He hit .234 in both 2020 and 2021 for the Rockies, and the Marlins signed him to a minor-league deal in December.

MORE ARRAEZ

The Arraez acquisition reflects the Marlins’ decision, as explained in this September piece, to pursue contact hitters who are skilled at getting on base and using the wide outfield gaps at loanDepot park, as opposed to lower-average hitters who have more power.

A left-handed hitter, Arraez hit .330 against right-handers, .266 against left-handers last year. For his career, the splits are .330 and .261.

His .314 batting average is second highest in baseball since he debuted in May 2019 (minimum 900 at-bats) and his .374 on base percentage is 13th.

Defensively, he had eight errors in 169 career games at second and played 41 games at that position last year. His fielding percentage at second is slightly above the league average but his range is merely adequate.

Herald senior baseball correspondent Craig Mish hosts Fantasy Sports Today from 11 a.m. to noon and Newswire from 2 to 3 p.m. weekdays on Sportsgrid. Follow him on Twitter at @CraigMish. Follow Barry Jackson at @flasportsbuzz