Should the Atlanta Braves Go After Marlins Catcher J.T. Realmuto?

Another Marlins player has entered the rumor mills after reports were confirmed that catcher J.T. Realmuto wants to be traded

The Miami Marlins have been going on a selling spree after trading away notable stars such as Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton these last few weeks. Now J.T. Realmuto has apparently voiced that he wants to be traded but should the Atlanta Braves go after him?

Realmuto had a great 2017 season, hitting a .278 average with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs. The 26-year-old catcher still has 3 years of control left and is considered an elite catcher.

However, do the Braves need any changes now at catching? The Braves 2017 duo, Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki, are set to return next season. The two did an amazing job as a pair last season. For 2017, Flowers and Suzuki hit a total 31 homers total while notching 99 RBIs. Flowers had a batting average .281 while Suzuki had a .283 BA.

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The catching platoon was one of the best in all of MLB and the Braves awarded them for it. Suzuki inked a 1-year extension worth $3.5 million in September while Flowers’ 2018 option ($4M) was picked up at the end of the season.

This raises the question, SHOULD the Braves even call the Marlins about Realmuto?

Should The Atlanta Braves Do It?

One concern that would be answered with getting Realmuto, is possibly an upgrade defensively.

For 2017, Flowers and Suzuki threw out a total of 29 potential base-stealers. Realmuto threw out 25 stealing attempts alone.

It can be understandable that catching a knuckleballer is a difficult task but the platoon duo allowed 19 passed balls and 56 total wild pitches during the season. Though Realmuto did allow 44 wild pitches, he gave up only 9 passed balls.

Also, as David O’Brien pointed out, if the Braves get Realmuto, he is going to be a full-time catcher.

The picture at catching would be different. There currently isn’t any plans at catching for the Braves in 2019 as it’s unsure if Flowers or Suzuki will return next season.

Having Realmuto would mean he is the catcher for the future (at least for 3 seasons). It would also create questions on what to do with prospects Alex Jackson, and even Brett Cumberland (as both have an ETA of 2019).

Don’t Think Braves Will Need Him

Getting Realmuto is also going to be quite costly as well. It should be around as much as what it would take to get Christian Yelich, who the Braves were linked to for a bit. The kind of package that the Marlins got from the St. Louis Cardinals for Ozuna is quite possible as well.

Between Yelich and Realmuto, Yelich would seem to be better for the Braves. Excluding Ronald Acuna, the Braves don’t exactly have any other answer for outfield. Dustin Peterson has had some push back with his injury and Cristian Pache is still a couple years away at the least.

At catching, the Braves has some sense with Alex Jackson, who had a strong performance during his time in the AFL.

With Braves having other needs, the catching spot seems to be in a better shape than other positions like third, and arguably the outfield and rotation. If Flowers and Suzuki can perform like they did last season, the position will be just fine.

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With that being said, if Alex Anthopoulos can get a better deal for Realmuto than he would with Yelich, there isn’t really anything stopping him from at least asking.