Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto has been popular in the rumor mill in recent months, in part because of his own desire to leave Miami for a contender. Nevertheless, the rebuilding club continues to regard Realmuto as a long-term piece of the puzzle, president of baseball operations Michael Hill tells Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. “J.T. is drafted by the Marlins and developed by the Marlins and got to the big leagues as a Marlin; all my conversations with him have been that he’s a part of what we’re building,” Hill said. “He’s a tremendously talented catcher, and we’re happy that he’s a part of what we have here. I think you’re still scratching the surface with his ability. The nation doesn’t know how good he is.” The Marlins don’t need to rush to deal Realmuto, who’s under control via arbitration through the 2020 season. Whether he opens the 2018 campaign with the Marlins or another team, the soon-to-be 27-year-old Realmuto will earn an easily affordable $2.9MM.
More from around the majors…
- Braves left-hander Luiz Gohara is dealing with a strained groin and is at least a week behind the team’s other pitchers as a result, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. While that won’t do the 21-year-old Gohara any favors in his effort to earn a starting job, fellow southpaw Sean Newcomb could benefit from it. He and another lefty, veteran Scott Kazmir, are the leading candidates to occupy the Braves’ last two rotation spots if Gohara’s not ready to go early in the season, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves could get away with using a four-man rotation until April 11, however, Bowman points out. Newcomb, 24, made his major league debut last season and fared nicely, tossing 100 innings of 4.32 ERA/4.19 FIP ball and recording 9.72 K/9. Granted, Newcomb’s impressive strikeout mark came with a troubling walk rate (5.13 BB/9).
- Familiarity with the Tigers’ coaching staff and an opportunity to start helped lead lefty Francisco Liriano to sign with the club, he told Evan Woodbery of MLive.com and other reporters on Friday. The 34-year-old Liriano is now reunited with Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire, whom he played under as a Twin from 2005-12. “I feel playing for Gardy makes it easier for me, and also having the opportunity to start here,” said Liriano, who, for the first time in his career, is coming off a season in which he totaled more relief appearances (20) than starts (18). After working to a 5.66 ERA/4.64 FIP across a combined 97 frames with Toronto and Houston in 2017, Liriano will attempt to revive his career on a $4MM salary in Detroit.
- The Twins’ minor league signing of Erick Aybar came thanks in part to righty Ervin Santana and third baseman Miguel Sano, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press explains. Aybar was teammates with Santana in Anaheim from 2006-12, while Aybar and Sano are longtime friends who also share an agency (Roc Nation Sports). With all of that in mind, the Twins asked Santana and Sano for their thoughts on Aybar. Both players advised the Twins to bring in the 34-year-old, and the team followed through. There’s no guarantee Aybar will earn a roster spot after enduring multiple rough years in a row, though, which he realizes. “I don’t know yet,” Aybar admitted when asked how much he has left. “I can’t say. We’ll see. It was a weird two years.”
Hard to believe Michael Hill’s comments about JT when pretty much everything he said about him could’ve also been said about Stanton, Yelich and Ozuna yet they aren’t on the team anymore.
I don’t see the Marlins contending with Realmuto still in his prime, does anyone???
The fact that they’re talking about him like he’s 21, not 27, is particularly insulting to him and the fanbase.
Ironically, hard to believe Michael Hill is still on the team Lol
If the Marlins are fully committed to a rebuild, then they need to trade Realmuto. Their farm system still doesn’t have enough talent to make them relevant in the next 5 years. They could get a package of very good prospects in a deal for Realmuto. That would help the farm system and help them become relevant quicker
I suppose there’s only so much you can realistically milk out of the rest of the league in one offseason.
Have you looked at their farm system recently? They have some really good players. 15 that are graded a 50 or better.
The Marlins have no reason to trade Realmuto if they don’t get the elite, MLB ready OF prospect they are looking for. If the Nationals are willing to give up Robles, or the Astros are willing to give up Tucker or the Braves are willing to give up Acuna, then they trade Realmuto. If not, he is under team control for 3 years. They can keep him or trade him at a later date. No hurry.
Colorado could make sense for Realmuto. Marquez, Rodgers, Almonte and Patterson for Realmuto and Barraclough?
Or Marquez, Vilade, Hampson, Almonte, and Patterson for Realmuto and Barraclough?
Why would the Rockies trade Rodgers when LeMahieu is a FA after 2018? The kid sure seems ready to take over there in 2019.
Besides….I think the Marlins believe in “the other J.T. on their team (Riddle).
Riddle is a potential utility guy, and more of a 2b than a SS. If Rodgers wouldn’t be on the table in that type of deal, which probably makes sense, although they’d be getting 3 years of Realmuto and at least 4 of Barraclaugh, there’s an alternative offer right there in the post…
What elite MLB ready OF do the Rockies have to offer.
If you can get a package like that, with up the middle players, and a Major league arm, who cares? As a Marlins fan, I wouldnt.
Wow, are you an actual Marlins fan? You’ve gotta be if you think Realmuto is worth Robles, Tucker, Or Acuna…..and if you think the Marlins farm has some really good players. They traded Gordon, Yelich, Ozuna, Stanton, and ended up with 2 top 100 prospects. You do know that the scale you’re talking about goes up to 80….right? 50 puts a player at just above average. The only “really good” prospect they have is Brinson.
50 grade prospects are all top 100-ish, regardless if they make lists or not – that is just the sliding scale of MLB prospects, they are all actually closer than these arbitrary lists make them out to be. Notice how TONS of superstars never made ANY list?
I am an Orioles fan. Just like anyone who is paying attention I know what Hill has been asking for in trades. It’s not hard. Listen to his press conferences and interviews. Hill has consistently said he wants a MLB ready OF in any subsequent trades. He got one for Yellich after saying that was his goal. He has said the same thing about Really do. What gives you any indication that he has changed his mind about what he is asking for?
50 grade is above average starter.
Yeah, your not gonna package anything you have left that will come close to you landing , Robles, Tucker or Acuna
If the Marlins are fully committed to a rebuild, it makes no sense to deal him just for the sake of dealing him. Let the Nats stand pat for a few months. Then, once the deadline approaches and they’re no longer content to rely on Matt Wieters, they’ll be begging the Marlins to fork Realmuto over and take Victor Robles off their hands.
Someone hit the sauce early today. Begging to take Robles? By the deadline the Marlins and every other team that has been eliminated from any chance at the post season will have players to give up. Realmuto is not the only catcher in baseball. Nationals will just move on and again Miami will have a catcher that hates playing for the team with 2019 mlb first overall draft pick. Good luck with your damaged team.
When Weiters is hitting .190 and terrible behind the plate?
Newcomb has always had terrible command. That’s gonna be the thing holding him back from being a good pitcher
They said the same thing about me.
I had great command. Topping out at 83 mph cost me my big league dreams. You can’t start out as Jamie Moyer
Of all the trades the Braves made the Newcomb deal hurts me the most. I miss watching Simba at short.
I have some friends that are huge Angels fans…Simmons has become a huge fan favorite out there, and now his bat is finally catching up. Yeah that trade and Kimbrel trade hurts more than any the last decade.
Nothing helps young, maturing pitching than the best defensive player in MLB. Could you imagine having Inciarte and Simba behind you?
Yeah and what makes it even worse is the Angels snagged Maitan too…you’re welcome Angels fans! smh
If the Braves were smart they would have given Freeman’s money to Simmons, or better yet, lock them both down.
In before some dumb fake money issue the FO lied to its fans about and the homers bought hook line and sinker to come in and defend. smh. All teams make mistakes and the Braves trading Simmons is theirs.
Yeah I hated that trade, Still do.
Newcomb for Renfroe makes to much sense if the Padres are really looking to move Renfroe. I️ really thought the Braves were gonna try to make a step this year into at least wild card contenders. But so far looks like it’s gonna be another long year.
Yeah I wouldn’t mind that at all. Newcomb has some upside but so does Renfroe if he can get his average up…pretty even swap.
Yeah, just the Marlins talking about a late 20’s player who is leaving his prime soon like he’s a 21 yo prospect. What an infuriating team to play for.
#FREEJT