PHILADELPHIA — Brian Cashman wouldn’t say whether he spoke with Derek Jeter as part of his due diligence on Jazz Chisholm Jr.
But the Yankees general manager said Wednesday he was pleased with the results of his extensive research into the team before acquiring Chisholm from the Marlins, where Jeter was CEO and minority owner for much of Chisholm’s tenure.
The 26-year-old infielder/outfielder arrived with a reputation for being a strong personality in Miami that antagonized teammates and staff, including a public spat with veteran Miguel Rojas.
“We did a lot of research on him and we’re very excited to acquire him,” Cashman said on a conference call Wednesday. “He’s obviously very athletic and he’s fun to play with. After doing an extensive search, we felt he was a great fit for our team and a great player for coach Aaron Boone to use.”
Chisholm’s early production has been strong, hitting four home runs in his first three games and bringing an energy that his teammates have come to appreciate.
Chisholm also fills a major need at third base, a position he had never played professionally until Monday, even though Cashman said he wasn’t sure how the Yankees would take it when they acquired him.
“It’s nice to know that when he came here, it was like, ‘I’m gonna try no matter what, I just want to win, whatever you want,'” Cashman said. “And he’s playing really well, so that speaks to his athleticism. To be afraid to do whatever it takes in a pennant race environment, even if it puts you at a disadvantage, speaks to the kind of person he is and how he approaches his work every day.”
Chisholm said after playing his first game against the Yankees in Boston on Sunday night that it was only natural for him to join Jeter’s former team, but Cashman would not say whether Jeter helped evaluate the player.
“It’s our job as an organization to work together to get as much information as we can about these players,” Cashman said. “Scouts, front office, coaches, [other] In friendly relationships with organisations or when a boss called the other person, it was a two-way street.
“I try to use my network to the fullest extent to put myself in the best position to understand not only talent assessment but also people.”
