The New York Mets have been coveting Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto for some time now and there was speculation during the Winter Meetings the team would acquire him in a three team deal which would have sent Noah Syndergaard to the crosstown Yankees as well as a one on one deal.
But none of this came to pass and yesterday the Mets reached agreement on a two year contract with veteran catcher Wilson Ramos for $19 million with a club option for the 2021 season.
In all honesty, I think the Mets are better off with Ramos than Realmuto behind the plate. Both catchers were named to their league's respective All-Star Teams in 2018. Realmuto had the best year of his five year career with the Marlins with a career high 21 HR and 74 RBI along with a respectable .277 batting average. It was sufficient for Realmuto to earn his first Silver Slugger Award. Ramos was no slouch either hitting a combined .306 with 15 HR and 70 RBI with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies. His All-Star selection was the second in his career after earning a spot on the NL All-Star Team in 2016 when he hit a career best .307 with 22 HR and 80 RBI while with the Washington Nationals.
While Realmuto is 3½ years younger than Ramos and might be entering his prime offensive years, I think the Mets are better off with Ramos behind the plate. He handles pitchers better and his seven seasons in a Nats uniform put him in a unique position to help the Mets navigate the likes of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.
As for Realmuto don't be surprised if he moves across the state and ends up with Ramos' old job in St. Pete.
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