The Philadelphia Phillies are going to have a busy free agency and offseason. Kyle Schwarber needs to be re-signed, while Nick Castellanos and Alec Bohm are subjects of trade speculation once again.
But one of the more underrated storylines of the offseason for the Phillies is what Dave Dombrowski and the front office decide to do with catcher JT Realmuto. With few catching options on the market, Realmuto is a huge decision for the Phillies this winter.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the most recent update on Realmuto's free agency is an interesting one. While there aren't many great full-time catchers on the market, Realmuto's projected contract isn't looking like a big one.
Phillies get JT Realmuto's free agency update from ESPN's Jeff Passan
"The only full-time starting-caliber free agent catcher, Realmuto should have high interest that includes returning to Philadelphia or decamping to any number of teams looking to upgrade at the position," Passan writes.
Teams around baseball having interest in Realmuto is hardly a surprise, as the stalwart behind the plate is a rare full-time catcher who can play the majority of the season.
While he's older, at 34 years old, he's coming off a strong 2025 season where he played 134 games, and another four in the postseason.
Realmuto will be 35 on Opening Day, which, as Passan notes, "Realmuto won't demand more than two years, putting the three-time All-Star in play for playoff teams and aspirants alike."
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Philadelphia will try to bring Realmuto back, but if another contender needs a catcher and is willing to pay Realmuto well over two seasons, then the Phillies might have a tough time keeping their catcher.
Since being acquired before the 2019 season, Realmuto has played in seven seasons with the Phillies, playing in 833 games and hitting.265 with a.778 OPS. He's been named to two All-Star teams, but not since 2021.
There's plenty of reason for the Phillies to bring back their longtime starting catcher. Whether it's his quality offense, stability at the position, and chemistry with the pitching staff, Realmuto is a priority signing this offseason.
His new deal will likely be for no more than two years. While the Phillies won't be alone in their pursuit of the veteran catcher, they are one of his top landing spots this winter.
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