MLB trade rumors: J.T. Realmuto wants Marlins to trade him before spring training

Catcher J.T. Realmuto’s agent Jeff Berry has come out and said that his client wants to be dealt, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The news came hours after Realmuto lost his arbitration hearing, but that apparently had no bearing on his thoughts.

“No matter how his arbitration hearing turned out, J.T.’s preference remains the same,” said Berry, who is the co-head of CAA baseball. “He would like to be traded to another organization before spring training so he has an opportunity to compete for a championship.”

Realmuto, a right-hand hitting catcher, smacked 17 homers with 65 RBI while slashing .278/.332/.451 in 141 games. Among catchers, Realmuto finished in the top three in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, at bats, stolen bases, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.

Because of how well he performed, Realmuto requested to make $3.5 million this season. But, because he lost the hearing, the 26-year-old Realmuto will only make $2.9 million.

Before Berry’s comments, there have been multiple reports that Realmuto had wanted to leave Miami and that the Marlins were shopping him. MLB.com says 12 teams have expressed interest in Realmuto, with the Nationals making the strongest push for him.

With the Marlins having traded away players like Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich, who did not want to be part of a rebuild under the club’s new ownership, it would seem likely they will grant Realmuto his wish.