Could the Colorado Rockies trade for Marlins catcher JT Realmuto?

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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 18: J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins is congratulated by teamamtes after he hit a two run home run scoring teammate Marcell Ozuna#13 in the second inning against the New York Mets on August 18, 2017 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

According to Craig Mish of SiriusXM Radio, Miami Marlins catcher JT Realmuto has requested that he be traded from the team.

Yesterday, Craig Mish of SiriusXM Radio reported on Twitter that Marlins JT Realmuto has asked to be traded from the team.

Source : JT Realmuto has requested a trade from the Marlins.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) December 18, 2017

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and MLB Network confirmed Mish’s report.

Source confirms report from @CraigMish: #Marlins’ Realmuto wants to be traded. Elite catcher under three years of control likely would bring back significant value.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 18, 2017

Realmuto in the major leagues

Realmuto has played three full seasons in the major leagues plus 11 games in 2014 for the Marlins. In the three full seasons, he has averaged 135 games played (which is high for a catcher) with 139 hits, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, a .281/.323/.430 offensive slashline, and a 104 OPS+.

Defensively, Realmuto struggled in past seasons but in 2017, according to Baseball Prospectus, he was six runs above league average (mostly due to his improved pitch framing metrics, per Fangraphs). It should also be noted that Realmuto is, compared to all catchers, a very good baserunner. MLB.com’s Statcast has him far and away the best baserunning catcher in baseball (h/t Fangraphs) at more than a foot per second faster than Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs, the next leading baserunner at catcher.

The Rockies interest in Realmuto

I think that the Rockies interest should be rather high. First off, he is young (he will turn 27 years old on March 18). Secondly, he is under team control for another three seasons before he becomes a free agent. Thirdly, he is cheap on payroll (he is projected to make about $4 million in arbitration according to Fangraphs). Considering that recently signed Chris Iannetta is atop the Rockies depth chart at catcher, the team would get a significant upgrade with Realmuto catching.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 18: J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins rounds second base after he hit a two run home run in the second inning against the New York Mets on August 18, 2017 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

What it would take to get him

The Marlins recently traded outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna as well as infielder Dee Gordon (who the Seattle Mariners plan on putting in center field). They did not receive great returns from the receiving teams (for Stanton, it was because his mammoth contract). However, Ozuna and Gordon should have gotten more in return. But, with Realmuto, since he is not making much salary, the Marlins should be able to get more of a return on him.

However, considering that the Marlins have spent 25 years boggling people’s minds, including, at least thus far, new partial owner and CEO Derek Jeter (somebody had to say it), they could surprise the baseball world again and get little to nothing for a trade for Realmuto.

If a trade works out for market value, I would say that the Rockies have to give up two of the organizations top five prospects (probably Riley Pint or Brendan Rodgers and one more top five prospect) and one more in the top 15 or 20 as well as another lesser prospect. If the Marlins pull a Marlins-like move, they could just ask for 2-3 mid- to lower-level prospects.

Now, granted this was 20 years and three ownership groups ago, this was the organization that traded Mike Piazza to the Mets, one year after winning the World Series and a few days after acquiring him from the Dodgers, for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz (who never made it to the major leagues). /

Also, after the 2007 season, the team traded Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller (before he became a very successful reliever), Dallas Trahern (never made it the majors), Burke Badenhop, Frankie De La Cruz, and Mike Rabelo in one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history (mind you, some of the team’s current front office was involved with that trade).

Final Thoughts

Realmuto would help the Rockies tremendously going forward. The Marlins probably won’t be looking to trade him but considering how poorly the Marlins have done in their past in trades (recently, on paper at least, and in the further past), you can’t put it past them to do it again. However, I think that since he is more controllable and affordable, the team will probably look to be more cautious in a trade for him.

Also, outfielder Christian Yelich has expressed his displeasure with the Marlins moves of late and he could soon be on the move.

Next: Could Adrian Gonzalez be a fit for the Rockies at 1st base?

It almost certainly won’t happen but if the Rockies could get Realmuto and Yelich, that could potentially be a trade like for Cabrera and Willis for the Tigers: very lop-sided and in favor of the Rockies.

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