Source: Mets front-runners to land Realmuto

LAS VEGAS -- Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen insists that even with those players he is pursuing most ardently, there is "a walkaway point" he will not cross -- a point in which a potential deal stops making sense for the Mets.
He's just not there yet with J.T. Realmuto.
Multiple sources said the Mets remained steady Tuesday in their pursuit of Realmuto, the Marlins' All-Star catcher, on the second day of the Winter Meetings. One source said the Marlins consider the Mets the front-runners to land Realmuto, though Van Wagenen cautioned later in the day that "I wouldn't want to say we're making significant progress or close to anything."
"We've been really active," Van Wagenen said. "We're going to be as busy as possible and we're not going to have a lot of downtime."

While the Mets are exploring upgrades both in the outfield and their bullpen, catching remains a priority at the Winter Meetings. In addition to their Realmuto talks, the club met in person with free agent Wilson Ramos, among other backstops. Yasmani Grandal and Martín Maldonado also remain options for the Mets, as do a slew of potential trade targets.
But the grandest prize is Realmuto, whom many consider the best catcher in baseball after he hit .277 with 21 homers and an .825 OPS. Realmuto's agent, Jeff Berry, has been vocal in saying his client won't sign an extension with the rebuilding Marlins, lighting a fire under Miami's front office to complete a trade.
• Wright advising Mets' brain trust at Meetings
Still, Realmuto won't come cheap; one source with knowledge of the trade talks said Amed Rosario alone wouldn't be enough to land him. Noah Syndergaard likely would, whether in a regular deal or a three-team trade, but multiple sources poured cold water on the notion that the Mets are about to complete a multiteam blockbuster.
Other options for Miami include outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto. The former will make less money next season and is under team control for four more years, making him a more likely target for the Marlins than the latter. Yet Van Wagenen will tread carefully. While he did not dismiss the idea of trading big league talent in a deal for Realmuto, Van Wagenen made it clear he would not do so unless the deal clearly makes the Mets better in 2019.

"If we're going to move any player of significance off our current roster," Van Wagenen said, "it's going to put us in a position to win more games [next] year."
Of course, the Mets can add players without giving up talent through free agency, which appears to be their method of choice to upgrade the outfield and bullpen. New York remains a prime landing spot for free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock, as well as for relievers Andrew Miller and David Robertson. When manager Mickey Callaway was asked Tuesday what his recruiting pitch would be for Miller, whom he coached in Cleveland, the manager replied: "You're really good and we need you."
The Mets feel similarly about Realmuto, even as they continue to talk up in-house options Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki.
"I think after last season we need to get better at the catcher position," Callaway said. "We're taking a lot of steps with the guys we have in our organization currently to improve. And I know that Brodie is out there looking at external options to help our team improve. But we definitely need to get better."