Nationals Latest Team Linked To Top Free Agent J.T. Realmuto

Philadelphia Phillies free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto is perhaps the best remaining player on the market and multiple teams are interested. You can throw the Washington Nationals in there now, too, according to veteran MLB insider Jon Heyman.

There is one catch, though. Per Heyman, Realmuto joining the Nats will likely come down to "whether the (Nationals owners) Lerners approve the expenditure. Their payroll has been relatively high but they have their limits."

Realmuto, 29, was acquired by the Phillies in a trade with the Miami Marlins in February 2019. He is a two-time All-Star (2018 and '19) and a one-time Gold Glove recipient. In two years with the Phillies, he compiled an overall batting average of .273 with 115 RBI and 36 home runs.

Along with the Nationals, the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees have been linked to Realmuto.

The possibility also exists that he could return to the Phillies -- though a report last month suggested the franchise lost around $2 billion during the coronavirus pandemic. Forget Realmuto, that would remove the Phillies from signing just about anyone.

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.