Posted on November 30, 2018, by Bryan Zarpentine
Image via sportingnews.com
As the MLB hot stove hits up moving into December, one name that will grow more and more prominent in the rumor mill is Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Marlins spent last offseason trading away most of their notable stars. Now it seems like it’s Realmuto’s turn. With Realmuto moving into the prime of his career but only have two more years of team control for the rebuilding Marlins, now seems like the ideal time to trade him. Here are the teams with the best chance of landing him in a trade with Miami.
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Astros – 20%
With Brian McCann leaving in free agency and Evan Gattis likely doing the same, the Astros have a big vacancy behind the plate. They claimed Chris Herrmann off waivers, but he’s better suited as a backup. Houston is in win-now mode, so they forsake the catchers available in free agency and go after Realmuto. The Astros also have the farm system to meet Miami’s demands, which makes them a likely destination.
Brewers – 15%
The Brewers and Marlins worked out a trade for Christian Yelich last winter, so perhaps they can work out a deal for Realmuto this year. Milwaukee could probably get by with the catchers currently on their roster. But Realmuto would be a huge upgrade and could help them get to the next level after reaching the NLCS in 2018.
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Dodgers – 15%
The Dodgers don’t appear to be in a rush to re-sign Yasmani Grandal. After Grandal sat out games during the playoffs because of subpar defense, Los Angeles may want to go in another direction. Realmuto is a catcher who brings value both offensively and defensively. After losing the World Series in back-to-back years, the Dodgers are probably looking to make another big move this offseason.
Nationals – 5%
Even after signing Kurt Suzuki, the Nationals may not be out of the Realmuto sweepstakes completely. Washington has had a lot of discussions with Miami about Realmuto over the past year. They also have the pieces to meet Miami’s demands. It’s just a matter of being willing to part with those prospects.
Phillies – 10%
The Phillies, of course, are going to be connected to every top-flight free agent or player on the trade block this offseason. The Marlins are reportedly hesitant to trade Realmuto inside the division. But the Phillies seem poised to overpay for someone during this offseason, so it’s possible they make the Marlins an offer they can’t refuse.
Yankees – 15%
The Yankees have appeared in the rumor mill in recent days in connection with Realmuto. The club isn’t particularly enthralled with Gary Sanchez defensively. His .186 batting average last year isn’t exactly helping his case. The Yankees would surely part with Sanchez in any trade for Realmuto, but it’s going to take more than that to get a deal done. On the other hand, Derek Jeter is calling the shots in Miami, so he may be willing to do business with his old pal, Brian Cashman.
The Field – 15%
At this point in the offseason, there are still a lot of teams that could become involved in trade talks for Realmuto. The Mets and Giants have been mentioned in passing. The Red Sox could jump in, especially if the Yankees becoming more serious. Clubs like the Rockies, Athletics, and Angels also have a need behind the plate.
No Trade – 5%
With so many teams appearing interested in Realmuto, it seems likely that he’ll be traded before the start of spring training. However, the Marlins are driving a hard bargain for him, which could scare away some teams. Right now, there’s at least some chance that the Marlins will overplay their hand and end up without a trade partner.