Atlanta Braves Should Continue to Avoid Trading For J.T. Realmuto

The Atlanta Braves off-season is starting to near its end, but Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto is still on the market. This has left many  Atlanta fans clamoring for the Braves to acquire the catcher.   Trading for J.T.  would be a mistake one the Braves should avoid making.

J.T. Realmuto and the Atlanta Braves have been tied together in contradicting rumors for the majority of the off-season. At times it appeared Atlanta was interested and others it appeared to simply be a product of a slow rumor mill.

Realmuto is a good catcher but not worth spending important prospect capital on when the Braves have answers at the position. With two catchers already on the roster acquiring Realmuto would mean parting with one of their current catchers.

While this in itself isn’t a horrible fact, it would be a pointless move considering it is a position the Braves have filled and it would likely create a shortage in another.

Realmuto is a commodity but one the Braves shouldn’t spend on. Any trade package the Marlins will accept for him will likely contain at least one long term starting option, one the Braves would have to face within their own division.

Trading potential long term players for a short term answer is a nonsensical move, one this Braves front office is much too smart to make.

On top of all this is the fact that Realmuto is valued highly because of his position and not his actual offensive production. He is a career .279 hitter and has only reached 20+ homers once in his career.

He rarely walks and isn’t going to be a defensive upgrade behind the plate. He is considered just at replacement level and the loss of defense for the Braves is a factor to consider.

Realmuto isn’t the answer for Atlanta, the interest in him is simply a byproduct of a slow off-season. Trading for him would be a mistake that wouldn’t make the Braves better long term.  Trading for Realmuto is the wrong move, one Braves fans should be hopeful they choose not to make.