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Way back a couple months ago at December’s MLB Winter Meetings, rumors flew regarding the Yankees’ potential interest in the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard. Nothing much came of it all, but it did sound as though the crosstown rivals had at least discussed the prospect of a New York blockbuster.
One feasible framework of such a blockbuster involved the Marlins and their stud catcher, J.T. Realmuto. Such a framework didn’t appear to make sense for the Yankees, not with the talented Gary Sanchez still slated to work behind the plate in the Bronx for years to come. With today’s trade of Realmuto to the Phillies in exchange for Sixto Sanchez and Jorge Alfaro, however, details have emerged regarding exactly what the Marlins were looking for in that possible three-team trade.
The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reports that the Marlins asked for both Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar in exchange for Realmuto:
An idea of how far #Marlins went in this process: when #Yankees earlier this offseason were trying to get Realmuto to spin to #Mets for Syndergaard, Mia requested Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 7, 2019
Obviously, that would have been a no-go for the Yankees for any number of reasons. It looks like they engaged in three-way talks with the Mets and Marlins in attempt to get their hands on Realmuto and swing him for Syndergaard, which would have been untenable had they torpedoed their catching situation just to acquire Realmuto. Moreover, Sanchez himself is just as capable as Realmuto, and is under control for four years compared to Realmuto’s two.
That’s before even mentioning what Andujar could bring to the table for the next several seasons, coming off the heels of a strong rookie campaign that put him runner-up in American League Rookie of the Year voting. It seems the Marlins really were asking for the moon and the stars initially in trade talks for Realmuto, before finally settling on Philadelphia’s package centered around a top pitching prospect and an interesting young catcher.
What do you make of that wild three-way trade possibility? And what do you think of what the Marlins ultimately got for Realmuto?