The Phillies and Marlins have reached a trade that sends All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia for catcher Jorge Alfaro, pitching prospects Sixto Sanchez and Will Stewart, and an international bonus slot, the teams announced Thursday. After months of negotiations with a half-dozen teams for the 27-year-old Realmuto, the Marlins finally dealt him to Philadelphia, which remains a likely destination for one of the two biggest free agents left on the market: Bryce Harper or Manny Machado. "This is about us acquiring the best catcher in baseball," Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said, "and we're really excited about that." Sanchez is the most well-regarded prospect in the deal, a 6-foot right-hander whose fastball sits in the high 90s and tops out over 100 mph. The 20-year-old missed a majority of the 2018 season with elbow inflammation. Alfaro, 25, is a power-hitting, cannon-armed catcher who will join a young group in Miami. Stewart, 21, excelled in Class A last season, going 8-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 20 starts. "We did not have to trade J.T.," Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. "But our goal is to build a long-term sustainable championship organization." Philadelphia outlasted pushes by the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers to deal for Realmuto. He is the Phillies' fourth big acquisition of the offseason, following the signings of outfielder Andrew McCutchen and reliever David Robertson, plus a trade for shortstop Jean Segura. "We're talking about the best catcher in all of baseball, so of course he was popular," Hill said. Regarded by many inside the game as the best catcher in baseball, Realmuto has two years before he hits free agency. He hit .277/.344/.480 in 2018 with the Marlins, who in the past two offseasons have traded him, the last two National League MVPs -- Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich -- as well as outfielder Marcell Ozuna. "We have heard outstanding things about J.T. and his work ethic and his makeup and his leadership and the type of teammate he is," Klentak said. While the return on the deals for the outfielders last season remains questionable, Miami is hopeful Sanchez and Alfaro can blossom into stars. Sanchez especially has incredible upside, though the list of short, right-handed starters with huge velocity who have succeeded in the major leagues is not long. "In Sanchez, we saw a front-of-the-rotation starter," Hill said. "Electric stuff -- a pitcher we think can develop and lead a championship rotation." The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>This is what it looks like when a team thinks big and thinks now, and J.T. Realmuto probably will remember that big and now sometimes doesn’t mean forever, but it’s better than plenty of the alternatives. Left behind a year ago when his Miami Marlins shipped out a good portion of a talented if thin roster, when small and later became the new standard, Realmuto endured what most saw coming – a last-place finish and cratering attendance, but a new paint job. The Marlins may one day rise up in Derek Jeter’s image. In the meantime, they remain the Marlins, usually on their way to one thing or another and hardly ever getting there, and no longer Realmuto’s problem. On Thursday, according to sources, Realmuto was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, who know something about transitioning into or out of whatever ails them, but who for the moment are relevant again after seven dark Octobers out of the National League East. The Phillies already had acquired shortstop Jean Segura, reliever David Robertson and outfielder Andrew McCutchen and were engaged with free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. An entity that had fallen into the wispy realm of tear-down, build-up, the Phillies have a fresh and lively saunter, one that now counts with it Realmuto, one of the better offensive catchers in the game. WASHINGTON, D.C. – SEPTEMBER 25: J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins looks on during a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) The cost for Realmuto, 27 and with two years of contractual control, was not painless. Angling toward the future, the Marlins received from the Phillies three players, along with an international bonus slot: catcher Jorge Alfaro, right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez and left-hander Will Stewart. Alfaro, the Phillies’ regular catcher last season, batted .262 with 10 home runs in 108 games in 2018. Alfaro, 25, will be arbitration eligible after the 2020 season. Sanchez was regarded as the Phillies’ top prospect. The 20-year-old Dominican was limited to 46 ⅔ innings last season, primarily because of a sore elbow. His medical report was considered a pivotal part of the deal. Stewart is a 21-year-old left-hander with a 2.06 ERA in A-ball last season. Story continues Then, so too was the cost significant for Segura (along with James Pazos and Juan Nicasio), who was acquired for J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana. Though to stop there in the NL East would have been a half measure. So, yes, they raid the Marlins, the only team in the NL East that is raid-able, but more important they add a solid and hungry presence in Realmuto, and in him a capable defensive catcher and a bat that can hit near the top of the order or in the middle of it. Phillies catchers — primarily Alfaro — were better than league average in many offensive categories. Realmuto hit .277 with 21 home runs and a .340 on-base percentage. He was an All Star. He was better than the best of the free-agent catchers – Wilson Ramos, Yasmani Grandal, Brian McCann, Kurt Suzuki. He was better than the other big-name catcher traded (to the Nationals) – Yan Gomes. These are the new again Phillies. Rather than continue the slog that is an organizational overhaul, that depends entirely on clever drafts and attentive development, that wore a second-half lull last season, they reached for something like competence. They pay, some will say overpay, for a top-of-the-line catcher. Just a year ago, when the Marlins were jettisoning Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon, Realmuto was left to man the rebuild. His agent requested a trade. The Marlins declined. The Marlins offered Realmuto a contract extension. Realmuto declined. By the time Realmuto reaches free agency, after the 2020 season, the Marlins are likely to be closer to where they are today than to Jeter’s hopes for them. The reasonable choice, then, was to move Realmuto and to keep pointing toward big and now, wherever and whenever that may be. It’s not something Marlins fans will love. But, it is something they’re probably getting used to. Realmuto likely had it figured out from the get-go, that if you want to play big-league ball Miami is as good a place as any, and if you want to win big-league ballgames there’s a whole different world out there. Maybe that’s in Philadelphia. It seems better than the alternative. More from Yahoo Sports: • Gronk’s parade ‘injury’ was extremely on-brand • College coaching legend takes first XFL job • Who’s the girl in the NFL 100 Super Bowl ad? • NBA’s most valuable team is one of its worst<doc-sep>The J.T. Realmuto trade saga finally is over. The Miami Marlins traded the All-Star catcher to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. Miami will receive 23-year-old catcher Jorge Alfaro and pitching prospects Sixto Sanchez and Will Stewart, as well as international pool money, in exchange for Realmuto. #Phillies have acquired catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Miami Marlins in exchange for catcher Jorge Alfaro, RHP Sixto Sánchez, LHP Will Stewart and international bonus pool money. Welcome to Philadelphia, @JTRealmuto! pic.twitter.com/5aTuQSdJ9t — Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) February 7, 2019 Many consider Realmuto the biggest name on the offseason trade market, and at least six teams reportedly inquired about trading for him since he rejected the Marlins’ contract offer in October. He now moves to his new team just six days before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Sanchez is thought to be the Marlins’ prized acquisition in the Realmuto trade. The 20-year-old right-handed pitcher has reached just the High-A level, but Baseball America lists him at No. 13 among all prospects. ?But his stuff?s electric,” a National League scout told the Miami Herald’s Clark Spencer and Jordan McPherson. “He commands the strike zone and he doesn?t try to strike everybody out. He?s not afraid of contact, and that?s the thing that?s impressive with a young kid. But when he gets to two strikes, you see some devastating stuff. ? Alfaro satisfies the Marlins’ reported desire to land an MLB-ready catcher in any Realmuto trade. Alfaro hit .262 with 10 home runs in 108 games last season. He won’t be eligible for free agency until 2024. Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images<doc-sep>
It may not be the deal you were expecting even a few days ago, but the Phillies have acquired 27-year-old catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Miami Marlins in exchange for catcher Jorge Alfaro, minor league pitchers Sixto Sanchez and Will Stewart, as well as international bonus money. The team has confirmed the trade. The agreement was first reported by Jim Bowden: #Phillies #Marlins deal agreed upon. 4 players going to #Marlins including Sanchez and Alfaro in return for Realmuto. — Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) February 7, 2019 Jeff Passan confirmed which players would go to the Marlins. Philadelphia and Miami are in agreement on a trade that would send All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies for catcher Jorge Alfaro, pitching prospects Sixto Sanchez and Will Stewart, and an international bonus slot, league sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 7, 2019 In Realmuto, the Phillies are arguably getting the best catcher in baseball. In 2018, he slashed .277/.340/.484 with 21 home runs, earning his first All-Star bid and the National League Silver Slugger award. Realmuto has expressed displeasure with the Marlins since they traded away stars Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich last year. His name has been mentioned in trade rumors the entire offseason with the Phillies often attached. However, talks picked up intensity in the past few days. The trade came at a high price. Alfaro showed signs of developing into a quality catcher in his own right, while Sanchez was the team’s top prospect and ranked in the top 25 across baseball by most pundits. Stewart is less heralded, but still possesses some potential. Stewart was my #22 prospect. He is a 21 year old LHP. Fastball up to 94, solid changeup, workable slider. Weird arm angle guy who gets a ton of ground balls but doesn't miss many bats. Potential backend starter with LH RP fallback. Was with Lakewood last year https://t.co/YXCrPrwMF0 — Matt Winkelman (@Matt_Winkelman) February 7, 2019 Heading into his age 28 season, Realmuto should continue to be among the top catchers in baseball for the next few seasons. He is still under team control for two more years, and reportedly would be willing to negotiate an extension with the Phillies. Realmuto turns 28 in March. He's under club control for two more seasons. He was not open to extension talks with Miami, but two sources said those talks are expected to happen with Phillies. — Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) February 7, 2019 Although it comes at a heavy price, the Phillies’ appear to have improved their major league roster. The team is still reportedly in pursuit of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in free agency, so there is the possibility that it may yet improve further.