Report: Astros back in the mix for Marlins' Realmuto
One day after reportedly agreeing to a two-year deal with outfielder Michael Brantley and being linked to designated hitter Nelson Cruz, the Houston Astros are back in the mix for Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
The Marlins are targeting Houston's top prospect, Kyle Tucker, in a potential deal, Frisaro adds. The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays are also interested in the All-Star catcher.
Houston has been one of the many teams linked to Realmuto during the offseason, but it's been more than a month since a rumor connected the two sides. The Astros have already signed Robinson Chirinos and employ Max Stassi, but Realmuto would represent an upgrade at the catcher position.
2018 Stats
| PLAYER | PA | HR | RBI | OPS+ | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.T. Realmuto | 531 | 21 | 74 | 131 | 4.8 |
| Robinson Chirinos | 426 | 18 | 65 | 97 | 1.6 |
| Max Stassi | 250 | 8 | 27 | 97 | 1.2 |
Defensively, Realmuto ranked higher than both of the Astros' current catchers in Fangraphs defense and threw out runners at a higher rate.
| PLAYER | G | DEF | CS% | FP | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.T. Realmuto | 125 | 7.9 | 38 | .992 | 8 |
| Robinson Chirinos | 113 | 3.3 | 10 | .996 | 5 |
| Max Stassi | 88 | 4.9 | 26 | .997 | 8 |
The 27-year-old Realmuto is projected to earn $6.1 million through arbitration next season and isn't scheduled for free agency until 2021.