Can Miami Marlins Actually “Win” A J.T. Realmuto Trade?

 Scenario Two: The Trade

Now to the reason you clicked. What trade gets the job the done for the Miami Marlins?

Really, it’s quite simple. They need to get exactly what they said they wanted.

Depending on what you read, that’s either a No. 1 prospect or a young MLB ready star. In all cases, a perceptible overpay. Anything less, and it should rightly be viewed as a retreat.

Last year, the Marlins were said to be demanding Ronald Acuna from Atlanta. They were said to be demanding either Victor Robles or Juan Soto from the Nationals. Said to be asking for Kyle Tucker from the Astros. Elite talents all.

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Take a moment, and think about your perception of the Miami Marlins if they had Juan Soto or Ronald Acuna next to Brian Anderson in the outfield. That’s what winning looks like.

What it does not  look like is, as reported by recent rumblings, is getting the fourth best player in a system and an average MLB regular. Looking at you Cincinnati.

Now, if the Reds want to make it Nick Senzel or Hunter Greene, along with Jesse Winker, that’s something else. Even Yasiel Puig would have added value to the Marlins, given his popularity amongst the Cuban community Jeter is working hard to bring back to the ballpark. But Jonathan India and Tucker Barnhart? Doesn’t exactly get the blood pumping.

If the Miami Marlins really can’t get a club to give up their top prospect, then two clear cut Top 100 prospects need to be part of the deal. The Astros, Braves, and Padres can all swing that given their depth. Two Top 100 guys, an MLB ready regular, and a lesser prospect. Four for one really feels like starting point, unless they can acquire an MLB star.

Basically, bad as it has looked so far, the Brinson trade is the measuring stick.

Additionally, unless the Giants have gotten tired of Buster Posey, catcher cannot be a major factor in this trade. If the third or fourth player coming back to the Miami Marlins is some Single A catcher with upside, fine. But if Jeter trades away baseball’s best catcher in exchange for a package built around a cheaper catcher that isn’t as good, how is anyone supposed to take this organization seriously?

Two years ago, the Marlins had baseball’s best outfield. Last offseason, all three members of it were traded largely for outfield prospects. Pitcher Sandy Alcantara was admittedly the top name coming back for Marcell Ozuna, but OF Magneuris Sierra was a key piece of the deal. Not a single one of those outfield prospects did anything in 2018 to inspire confidence they would someday be better than the guys they replaced.

Is less than a full season of baseball an unfair sample size? Absolutely. The signs aren’t good though. Consequently, the Miami Marlins should run as far away from catcher as possible, and perhaps even position players entirely.

The latest selloff happened in large part because of terrible starting pitching. Seems like pitching should be at the heart of every trade until the Miami Marlins have their next ace. At the very least though, a trade that doesn’t scream “let’s be worse than Baltimore this time” would be nice.

Ultimately, for any deal the Miami Marlins make to be considered a “win”, they’re going to need to add somebody that is going to be a story all season. Either a reason to show up to ballpark in 2019, or a reason to drool over prospect reports. Somebody who can whip up some of the same fervor Vladimir Guerrero or Eloy Jimenez conjured last season, or that once upon a time, Giancarlo Stanton did.

Anything less, and the Miami Marlins should just keep their fingers crossed for some classic Trade Deadline desperation.