LAS VEGAS -- The J.T. Realmuto sweepstakes heated up on Wednesday, with a couple of new teams entering the mix and new trade scenarios being proposed.
With at least eight teams showing various levels of interest, the likelihood is increasing that the Marlins will deal their All-Star catcher. The question is whether something will get done before the Winter Meetings wrap up on Thursday following the Rule 5 Draft.
• Why Realmuto is more valuable than you think
"I would consider it ideas, scenarios," Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said early Wednesday night. "If you're engaging, then you're working towards doing something. I think right now, it's still an idea phase. We're still just sort of working through everything."
The Reds are believed to be new to the equation, as are the Rays. They join the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Astros, Braves and Phillies.
"There have been a couple of new teams that have sort of entered, and that makes it more challenging, because you want to be thorough to the process," Hill said.

Hill added the new clubs reached out on Tuesday night.
Traditionally, the final night of the Winter Meetings can be eventful, because it is the last full day for clubs to meet directly with their peers.
The Marlins were prepared to work deep into the night to get something done. At the 2014 Winter Meetings in San Diego, Miami reached agreement on a trade with the Reds for right-hander Mat Latos at 4 a.m. PT.
Last offseason, days before the Winter Meetings, Miami closed the Giancarlo Stanton deal with the Yankees at 2:30 a.m. ET.
The 27-year-old Realmuto has drawn steady interest all offseason.
"It's interesting in the sense that [Realmuto] is a special talent," Hill said. "You're talking about a premium position. There should be interest. I'm not surprised, but in terms of the sheer volume that we've had to work through, that has been unique."

Hill did not specifically say the Marlins are asking for a catcher in return, but if they do move Realmuto, it would create a void behind the plate. While Chad Wallach is on the 40-man roster, and John Holaday recently signed as a non-roster invitee, both are regarded as backups.
The Reds have Tucker Barnhart, a former National League Gold Glove Award winner, as a possible trade piece with Miami. And the Dodgers have Austin Barnes, a former Marlins prospect, who is strong defensively behind the plate.
But Hill added that Miami is seeking the best package of players, and it doesn't have to include a catcher.
"I think our goal, if we were to do something, is to make the best deal for the Miami Marlins," Hill said. "It's not position specific or level specific. We need to get better. We're looking at everything."
The Marlins also are open to a possible three-team trade, but not the one that gained steam on Monday night that had the Marlins dealing Realmuto to the Mets and the Yankees acquiring Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard.
"I'm not even sure where that came from," Hill said of the reports from Monday night. "I don't even know what we were getting in that deal, because I read about that one. I knew what other teams were getting."

But Hill didn't dismiss the possibility of engaging multiple clubs.
"You never know how these things could potentially work," Hill said. "You just be open minded, listen to ideas and see where they go."
The Dodgers also have more clarity of what Miami covets for Realmuto, who batted .277 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs.
"Each day, we've gotten a lot more insight into what's possible, and now it's weighing different things versus one another," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said late Wednesday afternoon. "We're starting to line up what makes the most sense for us."
Asked if the Dodgers could exit the Winter Meetings on Thursday without making a deal, Friedman added: "It's possible, but I wouldn't be surprised if something happened."
Worth noting
The new manager of Miami's Triple-A New Orleans affiliate is Keith Johnson, who formerly was in the Angels' system. At Double-A Jacksonville, Kevin Randel takes over as manager of the Jumbo Shrimp. Randel gets the promotion after managing at Class A Advanced Jupiter last year.