So far this offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies have made four major moves. Kyle Schwarber is back, Matt Strahm was traded away, and Brad Keller and Adolis Garcia joined the team. But, there's another move in the works.
The Phillies are trying to re-sign J.T. Realmuto to a multi-year contract extension. But the free agent is seeking out other offers and is in a standoff with the Phillies.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported on that contract standoff, and also that the Phillies are making plans in case a Realmuto deal doesn't work. Gelb reports the Phillies are exploring the trade market for potential starting catchers to replace Realmuto.
Phillies exploring trade replacements for J.T. Realmuto
"The Phillies and Realmuto are locked in a standoff, league sources said," Gelb reports, "...A reunion makes sense for both sides. That, still, is the expectation. But, as Realmuto seeks a better offer, the Phillies have pursued trade alternatives."
As the Phillies begin to look elsewhere for a new catcher, the future of the Phillies backspot is very much in question.
Realmuto has been with the Phillies since the 2019 season after being acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Miami Marlins.
In the seven years since joining the Phillies, he put up an impressive 24.9 bWAR with 121 home runs, 434 RBIs, 811 hits, and a solid.778 OPS with two Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, and a top-10 MVP finish.
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The two-time Phillies All-Star has been an amazing addition for the team, and now, after his 2025 season, could be replaced.
Ideally, Realmuto returns on a multi-year deal. But, with a contract standoff and the Phillies' reluctance to break the bank this offseason for an aging catcher, the two sides might be going their separate ways.
Some interesting names could emerge as trade candidates for the Phillies, but the majority won't come cheap and would complicate things for the Phillies.
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