Marlins Trade Rumors: Phillies make late push for J.T. Realmuto

Per multiple sources, the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies have recently engaged in trade talks centered around All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.

I had a feeling the longer the Miami Marlins waited to make a deal involving J.T. Realmuto, the likelihood of another team jumping into the deep end head first with a trade offer would grow higher.

Welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to the party. Philadelphia becomes for fourth and potentially final National League East team to make the Marlins front office an offer for their prized catcher. The trade discussion for Realmuto, who just signed a one-year, $5.9-million deal with the Marlins, began last season with the Washington Nationals.

The Mets were considered a heavy contender before the end of 2018 and the Atlanta Braves continue to be one of the remaining franchises holding out hope to land the 27-year-old.

As Joe Frisaro wrote Wednesday afternoon, everything may hinge on one of the Phillies top propsects.

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"“Whether the Marlins trade J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies or not may come down to if pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez is part of the deal,” Frisaro wrote.“A source told MLB.com on Wednesday that Sanchez is viewed as a ‘must’ to be included in a trade package for Realmuto.”"

Sanchez is regarded as Philadelphia’s top minor league prospects, which would make sense since the Marlins have overvalued the trade of Realmuto from the start, which has pushed some potential teams out of a position to make a deal.

There would have to be other pieces to this trade deal, as the Marlins front office has been firm on receiving MLB players and prospects in return, somewhere between two and four players per sources the past few weeks.

Also, the Marlins hope to get a deal done before the team opens Spring Training in Jupiter, Florida next week when pitcher and catchers report Feb. 13. Having Realmuto in camp would be a big help to the team’s young pitching staff, however it might not be a good thing for him to be on the 40-man roster and traded within days of opening camp.

If Miami does in fact get Sanchez, they are getting a prospect who will continue to develop this season with a possible landing the Major League roster at the end of the 2019 season or in 2020.

Per his scouting report, he has improved his command of pitches during is time at High-A Clearwater. He is ranked as the Mo. 21 prospect in all of the minor leagues.

"“It’s hard not to get excited about Sanchez’s combination of pure stuff and feel for pitching. While he is just six feet tall, he’s strong and athletic with a repeatable delivery that points to a future in a rotation.He can hit triple digits with his four-seam fastball and also features a two-seamer with a ton of sinking action. His fastball is better than its pure velocity because of its movement as well as his ability to command it extremely well.”"

The Phillies have had Realmuto on their radar for some time. The organization has inquired about his services as far back as July, 2018.