Carl Albert alum J.T. Realmuto traded to Phillies
In October, J.T.
Realmuto's agent predicted the Miami Marlins' AllStar catcher would be with another team by spring training.
He was right. After months of speculation over what they'd do, the Marlins traded Realmuto on Thursday to the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher Jorge Alfaro, two pitching prospects and $250,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation.
Along with Alfaro, the Phillies gave up 20-yearold right-hander Sixto
Sanchez, their top prospect, and left-hander Will Stewart.
“This is about us acquiring the best catcher in baseball,” Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said, “and we're really excited about that.”
Realmuto, a Carl Albert graduate who turns 28 in March, had been with the Marlins longer than any other current player. His agent, Jeff Berry, predicted a trade after Realmuto informed the Marlins last fall he wouldn't sign a long-term contract with them.
The Marlins got the deal done six days before their pitchers and catchers report to spring training. A rebuilding project for the perennial also-rans will probably continue for several years under CEO Derek Jeter, whose group bought the franchise after the 2017 season.
The deal could vault the Phillies into playoff contention, and they're still pursuing free agents
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. They bolstered their lineup earlier with the additions of shortstop Jean Segura and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen.
Hunter Pence agrees to minor league deal with hometown Rangers
Hunter Pence has agreed to a minor league contract with his hometown Texas Rangers and will attend major league spring training. If added to the 40-man roster, Pence would get a one-year contract that pays a $2 million salary while in the major leagues. General manager Jon
Daniels said Thursday that the 35-year-old outfielder, who played winter ball, has a long track record of being a great teammate and is a winning player. Pence dealt with a thumb injury early last season, when he played 97 games for San Francisco. He hit .226 with four homers and 24 RBIs, all career lows. The three-time All-Star played at TexasArlington, only a few miles from the Rangers home stadium. Houston took him in the second round of the 2004 amateur draft.
Pence is a .280 career hitter in 12 big league seasons with Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco, where he was part of two World Series championships.