The rumors persisted for much of the latter-half of winter, that the Cincinnati Reds - fresh off multiple major additions to their outfield and pitching staff - were in hot pursuit of star catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Miami Marlins are run as a combination ATM/vacuum, and Realmuto was the last star on their roster who had yet to be traded, and the Reds maintained contact with the fish until Realmuto was ultimately flipped to the Philadelphia Phillies for fireballing prospect Sixto Sanchez, among others.
Front and center in the rumored Reds offer was catcher Tucker Barnhart, who at 28 years old is still under team control for 3 more years at a modest total of $11 million, and who has an option for year 4 at only $7.