MIAMI (AP) J.T. Realmuto wants to join the Miami Marlins’ exodus.
The catcher requested a trade in the wake of the team’s latest payroll purge, a person familiar with the situation said Monday. The person confirmed Realmuto’s request to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Marlins didn’t comment.
The person said Realmuto’s agent told the Marlins trading the three-year veteran would make sense for the rebuilding team because of his high market value.
Miami dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna and major league stolen base champ Dee Gordon this month. The franchise is reducing payroll and rebooting under a new ownership group that includes Derek Jeter .
Realmuto hit .278 with 17 homers this year and is regarded as one of the best young catchers in the majors. He’s eligible for arbitration for the first time after making $562,500 this year, but won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season, which makes the Marlins reluctant to part with him.
Realmuto could bring a windfall in prospects, and the Marlins are anxious to build up a farm system that has been ranked among the worst in the majors.
At last week’s winter meetings, manager Don Mattingly spoke of Realmuto as a player to rebuild around.
”I love J.T.,” Mattingly said. ”It’s probably not fair, but I laid a little bit of a Yadier Molina tag on him. When you’re facing the Cardinals and Yadier Molina is behind the plate, you’re not happy about it. We feel J.T. can be that guy. He’s not there yet, but we think this guy will step up leadership-wise and be a guy you can win a championship with.”
More cost-cutting trades are expected from the Marlins this offseason, with center fielder Christian Yelich among the candidates to be dealt.
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