The offseason grew more intriguing Tuesday when Jeff Berry, the rep for J.T. Realmuto, said on MLB Network Radio that his client would not sign an extension with the Marlins and, “I think he will definitely be wearing a different uniform by the start of spring training.”
Realmuto is 27 and the game’s best overall catcher at a time when there is a dearth of quality at that position. That could make him more desirable to teams than even big free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Will the Marlins trade him with two years until free agency?
They have dangled him before, and among many pursuers were the Nationals and Braves. The emergence of Juan Soto moved Washington to eventually include Victor Robles in proposals, but not shortstop Carter Kieboom, which curtailed talks. Atlanta has more layers of well-regarded pitching prospects than any organization.
But if Realmuto is truly available, the Marlins will have many suitors, with multiple executives mentioning the Astros as an expected strong player and to a slightly lesser extent the Dodgers.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman already has said Gary Sanchez is the Yankees’ catcher next year. But if it matters, he has four years to free agency and when Miami’s influential vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo was running the Yankee farm system he was said to be a fan of Sanchez. Does that create the firmament for a potential deal?
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