Well, it looks like JT Realmuto is going to stay in the NL East.
But not as a Marlin. Or a Met. He is the new catcher of the Philadelphia Phillies. After months of rumors and false alarms, Realmuto has FINALLY been traded. You hate to see him go to a division rival, but I’m just glad I don’t need to hear the name JT Realmuto anymore. (Until the season starts and we play the Phillies 19 times that is. )
After holding the Mets up for Syndergaard, Nimmo, Conforto and Rosario, the Marlins have come to their senses.
Miami will receive pitcher Sixto Sanchez, who is a consensus top 30 prospect, 25 year old catcher Jorge Alfaro, pitcher Will Stewart and international bonus money. All in all, an impressive haul for a catcher who didn’t want to be a Marlin.
If you said that JT Realmuto was the best catcher in baseball, I would not argue with you. Granted, the position is historically weak, but Realmuto is a fantastic player. He’s owed only 5.9 million dollars and is under team control through 2020. He led all qualified catchers with a .277 average, .484 slugging percentage and .825 OPS last season.
Does this move put Philadelphia over the top though? Not in my opinion. Realmuto is the fourth major addition this offseason by the Phillies, who also signed free agents outfielder Andrew McCutchen and reliever David Robertson and traded for shortstop Jean Segura. I still put them behind Washington and Atlanta.
Even with the acquisition of Realmuto their lineup doesn’t put fear in my heart. That could change if they are still intent on acquiring Bryce Harper or Manny Machado however. Harper is a big Realmuto fan as you may remember.
I know this much. The National League East just got a lot more interesting.