MLB Trade Rumors: Keep an eye on these early candidates

This one feels like it’s only a matter of time before the Miami Marlins ship J.T. Realmuto. Realmuto, along with Starlin Castro and Justin Bour, is one of the few major league pieces the Marlins have that will get teams knocking.

Now, as far as the trade market goes, catchers can be kind of tough. It’s one of those positions where a player can’t just jump right in with a new team and continue doing his job like normal. Newly acquired catchers have an entirely new pitching staff to get acquainted with, and that doesn’t happen over night. But sometimes teams get so little from their current backstop that a change really doesn’t present much of a risk.

Or, if you’re like the New York Mets and you’ve lost both your first and second-string catchers, you’ve become desperate. So, to the surprise of no one, they’re heavy favorites to get him. They’ve reportedly already been in touch with the Marlins and plan to start talking with them again.

With catchers, teams are generally forced to compromise some offense to get defense. A catcher’s most important role is behind the plate, not with the bat. But Realmuto is a proven commodity on both ends. He’s a solid defensive catcher while also sporting a career .280 batting average.

The Mets still feel like the obvious destination for Realmuto, but a catcher of his caliber would be a welcome addition to any contending ball club. Even after an incredibly busy offseason, the Marlins might not be done dismantling their team quite yet.