As the offseason was getting into its first few weeks and reaching the Winter Meetings, the Miami Marlins held a valuable trade chip in J.T. Realmuto. Rather than be part of a rebuild, the All-Star catcher requested to be traded.
Miami was initially hesitant to move in that direction but seemingly grew more open to the possibility as time wore on. It can be reasoned that there wasn’t a shortage of interest influenced the Marlins into pursuing a trade.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are among the teams that held talks with the Marlins, who reportedly sought a return that began with Cody Bellinger and included Yasiel Puig or Alex Verdugo. Puig has since been traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and the Dodgers aren’t believed to be interested in moving Bellinger.
Meanwhile, there’s been little on the Realmuto front, in some part due to their high asking price. According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins don’t intend on budging from that and are willing to begin Spring Training with Realmuto still on their roster:
The New Year has arrived, and the situation remains basically the same for the Marlins regarding J.T. Realmuto. The asking price continues to be very high, and Miami is prepared to carry the All-Star catcher into Spring Training.
Until something gives, either with the Marlins lowering their demands or a team shows it’s willing to part with a top prospect and more, the Realmuto saga essentially is a standoff.
Further complicating matters is Realmuto being eligible for salary arbitration. All such players and MLB teams face an upcoming deadline to exchange figures ahead of potentially holding arbitration hearings in February.
Realmuto is coming off a career season in which he earned a Silver Slugger Award by batting .277/.340/.484 with 30 doubles, 21 home runs and 74 RBI.
