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Nationals GM: We're not willing to meet asking price for Marlins' Realmuto

Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Miami Marlins have one notable trade piece remaining after gutting their roster this past offseason, but the Washington Nationals are balking at the asking price for catcher J.T. Realmuto.

"We touched base with (the Marlins about) Realmuto early in the winter and really haven't circled back yet," Nats general manager Mike Rizzo told MLB Network on Friday. "They've got a great player in Realmuto, they're not going to sell him cheap, and we know what the return has to be ... and we're not willing to meet that price."

While the Marlins ruthlessly shipped off the entire outfield corps of Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, and Marcell Ozuna this winter, the club appears less motivated to flip the 27-year-old Realmuto. He has two seasons of team control left after this campaign, having entered the arbitration process this past year.

Realmuto's also in the midst of his best season at the dish. Through 54 games, the right-hitting backstop has put himself among the league's elite with a .297/.355/.524 slash line, nine home runs, and one stolen base.

"Unless something changes on their end," Rizzo added, referring to the Marlins' front office, "we're going to go with (Matt) Wieters when he gets healthy."

Wieters, 32, signed a two-year, $21-million deal with the Nationals prior to the 2017 season. Though the first year of the deal was disastrous, he's posted a .727 OPS over 23 games this season. The switch-hitting catcher has been sidelined since early May with a hamstring injury.

While Washington is vying for contention, three games back of the division-leading Atlanta Braves, the roster has impressive depth and production at every position except catcher. By FanGraphs' WAR, the Nationals rank third-last at catcher, and worst among National League teams.

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