After the Miami Marlins endured another disappointing season, All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto made it clear his preference was to be traded rather than go through a rebuild with team. Miami initially appeared hesitant to honor the request but have since pursued deals.
Realmuto being place on the trade block brought about plenty of interest and speculation ran rampant during the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. The Marlins at one point were said to be discussing a three-team trade that also involved the New York Mets and Yankees.
However, those talks fell apart and there’s been little progress since. If anything, the list of potential suitors for Realmuto has decreased with each passing day. The Mets addressed their catching need by reportedly agreeing to a two-year contract with Wilson Ramos.
The ever-patient Los Angeles Dodgers remain among the clubs who are believed to still be engaged in talks with the Marlins. According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Dodgers would potentially be open to a package of Dustin May and Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith:
The Dodgers likely would consider moving Ruiz or Smith and right-hander Dustin May, their No. 3 prospect, in a trade for Realmuto. Thus far, however, the Marlins have been asking for substantially more in return.
Considering the Dodgers a flush with pitching and catching prospects, such a trade for Realmuto, who is under team control for two seasons, wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. But as noted, the Marlins have asked for a significant haul.
That’s amounted to reportedly asking for Cody Bellinger to be included in any trade for Realmtuo, which the Dodgers predictably are against. As the Marlins’ options continue to run dry, the Dodgers may ultimately be poised to strike a trade that benefits both teams.
