By: TJ Hartnett

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Over the course of a few weeks in the winter of 2017 the Miami Marlins traded away Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Dee Gordon in a purge of talent and payroll the likes of which had not been seen since…well, since the last time the Marlins purged talent and payroll. So about four years.

Notably not traded, however, was JT Realmuto. The catcher who was suspected to be one of the league’s best and who proved it in 2018 with his first All-Star selection and Silver Slugger award.

The backstop made it clear he wasn’t happy being the only man left behind and rumors began to swirl and continued to do so for more than a year, until at long last he was traded to the division rival Philadelphia Phillies.

With Realmuto goes the final piece of the rebuild puzzle, as – despite reports that Miami wanted a Major League player a la Cody Bellinger or Ozzie Albies – the return was three prospects: Sixto Sanchez, Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart, as well as international signing money.

While not getting a big leaguer in return might seem like the Marlins settled, that’s not necessarily true. While Albies and Bellinger have several years left on their respective contracts, I would wonder whether or not they (or similar players of their ilk that the Marlins could have received) would be wasted on bad teams for a few years before being unloaded just like Realmuto.

Miami is, as this moment, so far behind the rest of the National League East that they don’t have a chance of competing for at least the next two seasons. However, the rest of the division (the Braves and Phillies in particular) are only going to get better over the next several years. So perhaps a haul of prospects (and money for prospects) is the smart play for Derek Jeter and company.

Alfaro wasn’t the centerpiece of the trade, but he’ll have the most immediate impact, replacing Realmuto behind the plate. He is a downgrade, but literally every catcher in the league is a downgrade.

However, he has pop in his bat and a strong arm. He should make a reliable starter for the Fish going forward, even if he lacks the complete game that his predecessor will be displaying in the City of Brotherly Love.

Stewart isn’t likely to be a dominating hurler, but he has a fastball in the low 90s that he can locate. He’ll be a consistent Major Leaguer because of that control and since he’s only 21 there’s still time for him to develop more power and more pitches.

Sanchez is the prize for Miami here. He has the stuff to pitch at or near the top of the rotation and despite his small stature he can get his fastball into triple digits with some movement.

He also has a plus breaking ball and his change flashes above-average, although it’s the weakest of the three offerings. He should throw enough strikes to be a starter, but he’s battled injuries, and his size might suggest a move to the bullpen.

He could be dominant there, but the Marlins will give Sanchez every chance to develop into a well-above-average starter.

It was inevitable that Miami would trade JT Realmuto during this offseason. Although they cut it pretty close, as he’ll be reporting to Spring Training later this week.

While getting the Phillies’ number one prospect in return, along with two other players that will at least be decent long-term Major Leaguers, seems like good deal, it is questionable whether or not the best catcher in the game, under control for two more season, could have brought more back.