TL;DR
- J.T. Realmuto's departure from the Philadelphia Phillies is a real possibility.
- Realmuto is considered a top performer and vital to the pitching staff.
- The Phillies prefer Realmuto over acquiring Adley Rutschman due to cost.
- Realmuto led MLB in putouts with 1,216 during the last season.
The Philadelphia Phillies face the possibility of seeing their veteran catcher, J.T. Realmuto, depart. He's available to any team, alongside several other vital players, whose departure would undoubtedly harm the organization if they joined a rival.
The available catchers are few, making it quite probable that Realmuto might join another team. He is the leading figure in this collection of players, which isn't viewed as particularly robust.
Realmito joined the Phillies organization following a trade from Miami Marlins back in 2019. He's widely regarded as a top performer in his role and a beloved figure among supporters in Philadelphia.
A Phillies insider has minimized speculation regarding any pursuit of Adley Rutschman in a trade.
The Baltimore Orioles have hinted at a potential willingness to trade Adley Rutschman. They recently secured Samuel Basallo with an eight-year agreement, including a team choice for 2034.
There's been speculation linking the Phillies to exploring the acquisition of Rutschman. Nevertheless, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki minimizes this speculation, highlighting instead the organization's focus on keeping Realmuto.
"I think the team would prefer Realmuto. First, they know his value to the pitching staff and the club. Second, he'll only cost money, while I'm sure the Orioles are going to want a haul in return for Rutschman."
Realmuto has cultivated a significant rapport with the pitching staff throughout his tenure. While this alone might suffice as justification, he's also recognized as a key figure within the team's inner circle.
Realmuto would also represent a financial outlay for the club, whereas Rutschman would probably require the team to send some of their premier prospects to the Orioles in exchange for him.
The experienced backstop also possesses a top-tier throwing arm and is a tireless performer at his position. During the most recent season, Realmuto recorded more putouts than any other player in the major leagues, totaling 1,216. The player who came in second had 1,178, and that was Pete Alonso.
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