The latest Realmuto trade rumors

The Marlins reportedly are shopping J.T. Realmuto, who is arguably MLB's best catcher at a time when productive all-around backstops are in short supply.
Below you will find a list of the latest news and rumors surrounding Realmuto.
Phillies acquire Realmuto
Feb. 7: The Phillies officially acquired standout catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins for catcher Jorge Alfaro, right-hander Sixto Sanchez, left-hander Will Stewart and $250,000 in international bonus slot money on Thursday. More >
Frisaro: Marlins seeking Sixto Sanchez in Realmuto talks with Phillies
Feb. 6: The Phillies have been after Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the top two free agents, all offseason. But could they also be making a move for the top trade candidate on the market?
Philadelphia has recently "checked in" on All-Star Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.

Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports is hearing something similar, pointing out that there "could be some traction" between the Phillies and Marlins, who have been getting closer and closer to trading Realmuto and even weighing some offers in recent days, according to multiple reports.

Miami has interest in some Phillies prospects -- perhaps right-handers Sixto Sanchez and Adonis Medina and lefty JoJo Romero? -- as well as Jorge Alfaro, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.

Miami has its eye on Sanchez, especially -- he's the Phillies' top prospect and No. 27 overall on MLB Pipeline's new Top 100 list -- with a source telling MLB.com's Joe Frisaro that the young right-hander is viewed as a "must" as part of any Philadelphia offer. Also of note, Frisaro adds that the Marlins are aiming to finish a trade by the time pitchers and catchers are due to report for Spring Training on Feb. 13.
The Marlins also have indicated that they could be seeking a backstop as part of any package for Realmuto, considering the organization's catcher depth is lacking. Hence, the possibility of Jorge Alfaro being included, too.
Adding even more intrigue to this latest development is that dealing for Realmuto would not preclude the Phillies from still going after Harper or Machado from a financial standpoint, as the 27-year-old catcher is due to make $5.9 million entering his penultimate season of club control, SNY's Andy Martino mentions.

In other words, if the Phillies are serious about Realmuto, they could be looking to add him and then spend some of that "stupid" money on one of the free-agent superstars to improve their roster at multiple positions in short order.
It had been reported that the Realmuto sweepstakes were nearing a conclusion, with suitors whittled down to a handful of clubs in the Reds, Padres, Braves, Dodgers and Rays. The Phillies, however, now are entering the race.
Morosi: Padres continuing Realmuto discussions
Feb. 5: Amid recent rumors that the Marlins have narrowed trade discussions for J.T. Realmuto down to about six teams, the Padres continue to be prominently linked to the All-Star backstop, according to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.

The talks between the two sides are ongoing this week, reports Morosi, who last week noted that San Diego was "more of a factor" than the Dodgers, another club often mentioned in the Realmuto sweepstakes.

The Padres have been linked to several prominent players both on the trade and free-agent markets this offseason, especially of late as they look to accelerate their rebuild by adding premium talent at key positions. That includes Realmuto and superstars Manny Machado and Bryce Harper.
Austin Hedges currently figures to be the Padres' starting catcher, but the club's top options behind him -- namely, prospects Francisco Mejía and Austin Allen -- are relatively inexperienced. In terms of what the Padres can offer the Marlins in exchange for Realmuto, San Diego has one of baseball's very best farm systems with 10 prospects on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, the most of any organization.
Aside from the Padres and Dodgers, the other teams believed to be in the mix for Realmuto are the Reds, Braves, Rays and Phillies.
Which team has best offer for Realmuto?
Feb. 5: Could the Marlins finally be getting close to dealing catcher J.T. Realmuto? It's starting to look that way.
"Give the Marlins credit for discipline," MLB.com's Richard Justice writes in highlighting Miami's need to deal Realmuto with pitchers and catchers nearly ready to report. "In the 18 months or so they've listened to offers for baseball's best catcher, they've never wavered on their asking price, one that no club has so far been willing to meet. Now, though, it would seem Realmuto's value has been established and that it's time to close the deal. Would the Marlins really bring him to Spring Training as trade discussions continue?"
The Marlins are talking with the Reds, and one package being discussed includes catcher Tucker Barnhart and infield prospect Jonathan India, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
While the Reds like India -- who was selected fifth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft and is No. 53 on MLB Pipeline's new Top 100 Prospects list -- the club would prefer to move him over its top three prospects (Nick Senzel, Taylor Trammell and Hunter Greene), MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports.

Question is: Can any of the other teams that have been pursuing Realmuto beat what the Reds apparently have put on the table? MLB Network Radio host and former big league general manager Jim Bowden thinks so.
"If I'm [Astros GM] Jeff Luhnow ... I'm calling [Marlins GM] Mike Hill right now, and I'm beating that offer," Bowden said. "And if I'm [Dodgers president of baseball operations] Andrew Friedman, I'm picking up the phone, and I'm texting Mike Hill, 'I can beat that offer. Call me.' And if I'm [Rays GM] Erik Neander, I'm e-mailing [Hill] right now and saying, 'Please don't do the deal until you call me.' "

Of course, Cincinnati is far from the only team in the mix. A source told Frisaro that the Marlins remain in "substantive dialogue" with the Padres, Dodgers, Braves and Rays. More >

Padres, in pursuit of Realmuto, are focal point of Hot Stove activity
Jan. 31: Somewhat surprisingly, the Padres have suddenly jumped into the thick of the action when it comes to Hot Stove activity. MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reports that not only is San Diego in the mix for free-agent superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, while also showing serious interest in Marlins All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, but the club may try to address its dearth of reliable starting pitching. According to Morosi, the Padres are interested in veteran free-agent left-hander Gio González.
"One rival executive told MLB.com on Thursday that Padres general manager A.J. Preller is trying earnestly to sign Machado or Harper and acquire Realmuto from the Marlins," writes Morosi, who goes on to note that such an arrangement could work for San Diego financially. The club currently has a projected payroll of about $80 million.
The Padres also have a stacked farm system, with 10 players representing the franchise on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. San Diego could certainly make an attractive bid for Realmuto. 
The Padres reportedly met with Harper in Las Vegas on Thursday night, and according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the contingent of Preller, general partner Peter Seidler and manager Andy Green was "extremely prepared and seemed sincere about wooing the 26-year-old Harper." 
San Diego had already been linked to Machado before that news broke. Adding Gonzalez to the picture takes San Diego's potential level of competitiveness to another level, given that its greatest weakness at present is its starting rotation.
Gonzalez, 33, took a step back in 2018, posting a 4.21 ERA over 32 starts between the Nationals and Brewers. But he's just a season removed from a 2.96 ERA (152 ERA+) for Washington, and is as durable as they come, making at least 31 starts in all but one season since 2010. More >