A former All-Star catcher's return to Miami is gaining traction as the Marlins seek an immediate upgrade behind the plate.
Could the Miami Marlins bring J.T. Realmuto back to South Florida?
The 34-year-old catcher started his major-league career in Miami in 2014 and played there through 2018, making the All-Star team in his final season.
Amidst a rebuild, the Marlins traded Realmuto to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies in February 2019.
Realmuto kept up his All-Star form in Philadelphia, and in January 2021, the Phillies signed him to a five-year extension worth $115.5 million.
Now, it’s January 2026, and Realmuto is a free agent, and the Marlins are among one of the teams who could vie for his services, says one MLB insider.
For ESPN’s David Schoenfield, Miami’s catching situation isn’t ideal, and that makes Realmuto worth considering.
"Agustin Ramirez showed some promise at the plate as a rookie for the Marlins, but was abysmal on defense, throwing out just eight of 91 base stealers, while leading the league in passed balls,” Schoenfield wrote in his Friday column about under-the-radar free agents. “Liam Hicks wasn't much better for Miami (base stealers were 51-of-57 against him) -- prospect Joe Mack can't arrive soon enough.”
The good news for Miami is that Mack is one of the team’s top prospects, ranking fourth in the system and 70th overall in baseball.
Amongst catchers, Mack ranks No. 9, and of those nine, he’s one of five with a projected MLB debut date in 2026.
So Miami would be justified to roll with what they have until Mack is available.
Then again, prospects are never a sure thing, and the Marlins are a team that’s looking to make the playoffs in 2026, so the present matters for them, too.
Since Realmuto is turning 35 before Opening Day, the Marlins could probably sign him for well under what the Phillies gave him in 2021.
That’s part of why the small market Pirates and Rays were also among Schoenfield’s “possible fits” for Realmuto, with Schoenfield speculating that part of the reason the Phillies haven’t signed him yet is because there just isn’t much of a market for him.
“It's surprising that Realmuto hasn't re-signed yet with the Phillies -- without him, FanGraphs ranks the Phillies' catching situation as the worst in the majors -- especially since the club had prioritized re-signing Kyle Schwarber (mission accomplished) and Realmuto.”
It’s also worth noting that Realmuto is coming off his worst offensive season since 2015, ending the year with a .257/.315/.384 slash line and an OPS+ of 91, which is nine points below the league average.
Whether it’s in the form of Realmuto or somebody else, Miami needs more production from the catching position this season.
Marlins catchers combined for a .228/.300/.353 slash line last season.
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