Phillies Reportedly “Gaining Momentum” Towards a Realmuto Trade

While pitchers and catchers set to report to Spring Training less than a week from today, the Phillies continue to look to boost their roster. As we learned yesterday, the Phillies were making some progress towards a deal.  But the deal seemed to have as a stumbling block whether or not Sixto Sanchez would be included.

Joe Frisaro and Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reported that a deal could be gaining momentum:

A potential trade that would send All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins to the Phillies is "gaining momentum," a source told MLB.com insider Jon Paul Morosi on Thursday.

The trade may depend on whether pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez is part of the deal. A source told MLB.com on Wednesday that Sanchez is viewed as a "must" to be included in a trade package for Realmuto.

Frisaro covers the Marlins full-time for MLB.com.

Additionally, Craig Mish of Sirius XM reports that a deal is expected today.

While many Phillies fans have voiced concern over whether or not Sanchez would be included in the deal, some around baseball are concerned with the opposite: Sanchez is injured and would represent a risk.  Sanchez had elbow inflammation during the season and landed on the disabled list.  Then, after being set to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, Sanchez missed it with further injury concerns.

Any deal presumably would include catcher Jorge Alfaro.

The Marlins have been said to desire to trade Realmuto prior to the date players report to Spring Training, and some have even said that they would like to make a deal by Saturday, when the club holds their annual Fan Fest.