The Miami Marlins must trade J.T. Realmuto now

By David Levin | Nov 22, 2018

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 11: J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins reacts after being called out on strikes looking in the first inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Park on August 11, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

As the free agent market for catchers has been reduced by one, the Miami Marlins should look to trade J.T. Realmuto now rather than later.

The Miami Marlins are now on the clock.

As the MLB Hot Stove season gets more interesting by the day and the continues to erase the past and players who have spent significant time with the organization, it is time for the front office to trade catcher J.T. Realmuto.

I know I have preached this team did not have to move a finger other than to pick up a phone and listen to potential offers for one of the top chess pieces available this offseason. But now that Derek Dietrich is gone, the one who had the most tenure on the current roster, Miami should take a clue from his logo, the Marlin, and fish or cut bait.

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As the days get longer, teams will continue to put their best offer forward, hoping to entice Derek Jeter or Michael Hill enough to think hard about making a move.

The company line has been the team wants to continue working toward a long-term deal with Realmuto and his agent. That is all but a lost cause now. He was the subject of trade talks before last season and was a semi-hot topic during a 63-98 campaign.

This offseason will be another chapter in a story that has yet to be finalized.

Realmuto was either going to become the face of this franchise or bring a king’s ransom in return.

Once again, the Marlins will trade a core player from 2016 to rebuild its future. A move out of Miami means Realmuto may have an even bigger impact on the team he calls home in the future.

Ask Christian Yelich how it feels to win an MVP once he left the building?

Washington is now out of the running. The Braves need to find someone to replace Kurt Suzuki. The Los Angeles have him on their radar. The Houston Astros are holding their breath to see if they have a chance.

I still think the New York Mets and New York Yankees get in the deep end and tread water while other teams swing for the fences.

If he were to think about being the centerpiece of the rebuilding project, the Marlins would have to shell out at least $20 million per season to keep Realmuto around. It would take a change in philosophy to expand the budget and play “Let’s Make a Deal.”

Realmuto should get his wish this offseason, with a nice bushel of players coming down to Miami in return. But if the Marlins are truly serious about changing the culture of the team, trade the one player who could handcuff this team in the offseason.

In this case, waiting may be the worst thing the Marlins could do in getting the best return for their trade value.

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