Dodgers: Perfect Time to Swoop in and Get J.T. Realmuto

The Dodgers are still deciding what move to make next, and after another team dropped out of the Realmuto sweepstakes, it’s time for the Dodgers to swoop in and grab Realmuto.

The Dodgers and the rest of Major League Baseball are now waiting for the main dominoes of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to fall before the rest of the free agents start flying off the board.  One of those free agents did come off the board Sunday when the Mets agreed to sign Wilson Ramos to a two-year contract.

While the move may not seem to impact the Dodgers, it very well could help the Dodgers jump back into the J.T. Realmuto sweepstakes.  The Mets were one of the main teams linked to Realmuto at the winter meetings and there were even rumors of a proposed three-way trade with the Yankees that would have involved Noah Syndergaard.  Instead, the Mets decided to sign one of the two best catchers on the free agent market.

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With the Mets now settled at catcher, that leaves the Dodgers as one of the main teams involved for Realmuto along with the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Braves were another team pursuing Realmuto who appear to have moved on.  The Dodgers have a short-term need for a catcher so Realmuto could come to the Dodgers for two seasons then leave and net the Dodgers draft pick compensation while Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith catch for the next decade in a perfect world.

While Realmuto is Puig like in that he hits right-handed pitching better as a right-handed batter, he would help the Dodgers out tremendously in the clutch department.  Over the last three seasons, J.T. Realmuto has hit .286 with runners in scoring position.  He also hits .260 with runners in scoring position with two outs, which would be an upgrade for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are currently looking to go into the season with Austin Barnes and another veteran backup catcher in case Barnes’ bat doesn’t come back to life.  They have been linked to Martin Maldonado and Francisco Cervelli, but neither is anything to get excited about.  Should the Dodgers miss out on Bryce Harper, Realmuto would be a nice consolation prize that would improve the team.

It’s the perfect time for Andrew Friedman to hit a home run and go get Realmuto.  The asking price would have to drop since the Marlins have asked for Cody Bellinger before but the trade options are dwindling down by the day for the Marlins.  The longer they wait to deal him, the less value he has since he is two seasons away from free agency.

If the Dodgers were to land Harper, then acquiring Realmuto would really be the cherry on top for the Dodger offense.  They would throw out a powerful lineup that has no holes 1-8 in the order.  The Dodgers need a short term bridge to their young duo of Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz, and the best option on the free agent and trade block is J.T. Realmuto.