MLB trade rumors: Yankees offering Gary Sanchez for Marlins’ J.T. Realmuto?

One MLB insider wondered if Yankees general manager Brian Cashman could potentially land Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto in a blockbuster involving Gary Sanchez, who is on the 10-day disabled list with a groin strain. Sanchez is hitting just .188 this season with 14 home runs and 42 RBI.

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A day doesn’t go by without someone in baseball trying to solve the Yankees‘ Gary Sanchez dilemma.

As the star catcher rehabs from an injury, there’s no telling when Sanchez will return to the form that made him seemingly an untradable asset during the first few years of his major league career.

Factor in poor defense, two disabled list stints and a fan base seemingly frustrated with Sanchez’s play and the future becomes a question mark for the Yankees. But this caveat applies: It’s going to be nearly impossible for general manager Brian Cashman to find a more talented and productive catcher than Sanchez.

Unless, of course, a prime-aged star at the position could be had.

Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman wondered if Sanchez could be used to turn the position from a question to an unquestioned strength in a deal for Marlins star J.T. Realmuto.

Some Yankees personnel remain concerned about the defense of Gary Sanchez. You wonder if they could include Sanchez in a package for J.T. Realmuto …

Realmuto, 27, heads into play on August 10 owning a .290/.340/.501 slash line on the season. That, along with solid defense, has been good for a 3.3 WAR for Miami. Since the start of the 2016 season, Realmuto owns a 116 OPS+ and 9.6 WAR. The 2018 NL All-Star is under team control through the 2020 season.

Sanchez, 25, is hitting just .188 in 245 at-bats this season. The slugger has 67 career home runs, all accumulated since a call-up in 2016. Sanchez is under team control through the 2022 season.

Chapman worry?

Realmuto may be the better and more consistent player now, but the Yankees would be surrendering two years of Sanchez’s prime if a trade involving the two backstops went down. 

The waiver trade deadline is August 31, but a deal of this magnitude would almost certainly have to be made during the offseason.

Joe Giglio may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.