Marlins catcher and Mets trade target J.T. Realmuto isn’t going to talk about the hot stove rumors swirling around him just yet.
The All-Star backstop has been the subject of talks among teams and pundits alike this offseason, thanks, in part, to his agent Jeff Berry’s prediction that Realmuto will be wearing a different uniform come spring training.
Realmuto, currently on tour in Japan with the MLB All-Star tour, said he’s not letting all the chatter distract him.
“It’s not a discussion for me to have, honestly,” Realmuto said Friday. “It’s not my decision whether I get traded or not. It’s up to the Marlins. Whatever they want to do with me, that’s up to them. So for me, there is really no discussion to be had. My job is to show up and play baseball.”
Miami president of baseball operations Michael Hill has brushed off the trade talk, though he wouldn’t reveal if the catcher was engaged in talks surrounding a long-term deal. Realmuto, a third-round pick by the Marlins in 2010, is arbitration eligible through 2020.
Among the teams that would love to get their hands on the 27-year-old are the Astros, Nationals, Braves, Athletics and the Mets. Realmuto is high on a list of players for the Mets, who have been keeping a close eye on him since last winter, though the price would likely be a controllable young outfielder like Brandon Nimmo or Michael Conforto.
“Not to address [Realmuto] specifically, because I think he is an attractive player to the Marlins first and foremost and I am sure he would be attractive to every other club out there,” new Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen said earlier this week. “But that type of impact player offensively and defensively, we’ll be looking to explore all avenues to acquire those types of players, either in free agency or in trade.”
Realmuto is coming off his fourth full season in the majors, hitting career highs in homers (21) and RBIs (74) with a .277 batting average for the 63-98 Marlins.


