Phillies Pick Up All-Star Catcher JT Realmuto from Marlins for Prospects, International Money

The Philadelphia Phillies made a major move towards contending for a playoff spot on Thursday, acquiring catcher JT Realmuto from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three players and an international bonus slot.

Realmuto was widely seen as the best player available on the trade market, and is coming off his first All-Star Game appearance in the 2018 season.

Realmuto Latest Upgrade for Ambitious Phils  

The Phillies have been actively pursuing top talent in the offseason, and are considered to be in the market for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, both of whom remain unsigned. Realmuto gives Philadelphia a strong bat at a position where big numbers at the plate can be hard to come by.

“I think the upgrade is pretty significant,” Philadelphia general manager Matt Klentak said during a conference call with reporters. “It’s hard to acquire top players at any position, especially at the catcher position.”

Realmuto definitely fits the bill as an impact player. Last season, the 27-year-old catcher hit .277 with 21 homers and an .825 OPS in 125 games for Miami. It was the best year yet for a player who has been one of the better hitting backstops in the league for the past three seasons.

He joins outfielder Andrew McCutchen, relief pitcher David Robertson, and shortstop Jean Segura as major additions to the Philadelphia roster this offseason. The Phillies went 80-82 last year and should be much improved in 2019, especially if they can sign either Harper or Machado on the back of their other upgrades.

“I think this is another acquisition for our club this offseason that demonstrates our commitment to winning,” Klentak told reporters. “I would hope that the demonstration would be appealing to potential free agents.”

Marlins Continue Multiyear Fire Sale

There were several teams in the mix for Realmuto, and the Marlins waited for a package they were happy with before pulling the trigger on a trade. Philadelphia is sending back catcher Jorge Alfaro along with a pair of pitching prospects: Sixto Sanchez, who was considered the best prospect in the Phillies’ organization, and 21-year-old Will Stewart, who went 8-1 with a 2.06 ERA in Single-A ball last year. Miami also received $250,000 international bonus pool money.

For the Marlins, the trade continues a trend over the past two years of rebuilding the franchise’s farm system by trading away their top players. During that period, the club has traded away Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich – winners of the last two NL MVP awards – and outfielder Marcell Ozuna.

“We did not have to trade JT,” Marlines president of baseball operations Michael Hill told reporters. “But our goal is to build a long-term sustainable championship organization.”

While the balance of power in the NL East – and perhaps in Major League Baseball as a whole – still depends on where Harper and Machado decide to sign, the Phillies have gone a long way towards becoming a serious World Series contender this offseason. William Hill has Philadelphia listed at 16/1 odds to win a championship in 2019, not far off leading contenders like the Boston Red Sox (6/1), Houston Astros (6/1), New York Yankees (13/2), and Los Angeles Dodgers (7/1).