Derek Jeter’s destruction of the Marlins is nearly finished. And in doing so, he could be helping gift two stars to the Phillies.
An offseason after trading the Yankees Giancarlo Stanton, the Brewers Christian Yelich and the Cardinals Marcell Ozuna, Jeter has sent the Phillies J.T. Realmuto, which would not hurt Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper pursuit.
The Marlins and Phillies finalized a deal on Thursday afternoon, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed. The Marlins brought back pitcher Sixto Sanchez (MLB.com’s 27th-best prospect in baseball), catcher Jorge Alfaro and Single A lefty starter Will Stewart.
Realmuto, an All-Star catcher, was the final piece of real major league value brought over from the previous regime for Jeter & Co. to trade as they tear it down before they hope to build it up. He’s been on the trade block all offseason — and before that — as the 27-year-old is both a standout and can’t be a free agent until 2021.
He’s the type of must-have catcher whom Harper identified last season as exactly what his Nationals needed. As Washington struggled in what would be a fruitless playoff chase, a frustrated Harper publicly called for a Realmuto addition after the catcher hit a game-winning single against Washington on July 28.
“If that guy was on our side, it wouldn’t have happened,” Harper told reporters of Realmuto after the game. “So, tough luck.”
The Nationals did not get Realmuto. But in an offseason in which the White Sox have loaded up their roster with pals of Manny Machado — including his brother-in-law, Yonder Alonso — perhaps the Phillies bringing in Realmuto would put them over the top.
Also in the hunt for Harper have been the White Sox, Nationals and Padres.