J.T. Realmuto’s tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies is in question. The veteran catcher, who for a while held the unofficial title of “Best Catcher in Baseball,” has anchored the Phillies’ lineup and pitching staff since 2019. He’s loved by his pitchers and is a fan favorite in Philadelphia. A decision looms, and that decision comes with financial and physical dilemmas. Is it smart to pay big bucks for an aging, power-drained catcher? Dumb to remove a reliable catching guru with a team built around pitching? It is unclear, but what is clear is that the Phillies can’t keep handing out contracts like free samples at the mall.
J.T. Realmuto’s Future with the Phillies: Decisions Loom
At 34, Realmuto remains valuable at his position–likely more valuable in Philadelphia compared to any other location due to his fit and reputation with the arms under contract. A possible extension was floated last spring, but ultimately did not happen. He is no doubt the best available catcher on the market, and Philadelphia lacks depth to fill in over extended periods of time. There is no easy path to move on from J.T. without taking somewhat of a step back in terms of familiarity and chemistry. Make no mistake, free agency is ruthless, and Realmuto is the top guy behind the plate. Some owners have more money than others, which may get sticky for a catcher who’s gotten used to superstar money.
Why the Phillies Need Him Back
In 2025, Realmuto led the majors in innings caught. He also had the most innings caught by any Phillie since 1999. No one knows this team better than JT. During Thursday’s talk with the media, Phillies manager Rob Thomson mentioned that Realmuto is the most prepared catcher he has ever been around. Thomson goes on to say Realmuto even comes up with his own game plans for his friends on the mound. The pitching staff consists of long-term signees like Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola, and they’ll likely toss a few years to Jesús Luzardo. None of them have pitched for the Phillies without Realmuto behind the plate except for Nola, the team’s longest tenured pitcher and the catcher’s close friend. He’s the epitome of preparation and accountability.
MUST SEE: This on-field look of J.T. Realmuto’s incredible tag
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Offensively, he is slowing down from the wear and tear of being an older, everyday catcher. Still, he continues to provide spurts of power and gap-to-gap contact, regularly getting hot for months at a time, just not consistently throughout the long season. He’s a three-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glover, and a three-time Silver Slugger. His price should drop close to $12-$13.8 million per year and will attract large bidders. The Phillies keeping Realmuto on a short-term deal is the smartest and most likely scenario.
Why Letting Him Walk Might Be Smart
Realmuto has logged over 1,200 games behind the plate. The physical toll is real, and it shows in his defensive metrics and offensive production. The Phillies handed large contracts to Nola, Wheeler, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and another may be on the horizon for Kyle Schwarber. Handing anything more than $24 million to a catcher that could fall off a cliff at any moment is risky, to say the least. Moving on from Realmuto could free up cash and allow the Phillies to hit the trade market with a farm system littered with arms. Getting younger behind the plate while adding a more consistent bat would be ideal, but those guys have to be available. Realmuto slotted seventh in Major League Baseball with 129 hits but only 12 homers, which is far behind the league’s best.
Outside Options
Should Philadelphia part ways with Realmuto, Jim Bowden of The Athletic cited a few names in a recent article who could fill the void. Hunter Goodman from the Colorado Rockies is only 26 and hit 31 bombs in 2025. Both Carter Jensen and Blake Mitchell could be available from the Kansas City Royals, along with Los Angeles Dodgers backstop Dalton Rushing. These, of course, would have to come via trade. Keep an eye on New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells just in case.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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