The Philadelphia Phillies have been active this offseason, bringing in Adolis García and re-signing Kyle Schwarber, while also reportedly agreeing to a two-year, $22 million contract, per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. With those moves in place, attention has shifted to what comes next.
According to MLB insider Robert Murray, Philadelphia is now prioritizing a new deal for catcher J.T. Realmuto. Speaking on The Baseball Insiders: A FanSided MLB Podcast, Murray explained that keeping Realmuto has been a major objective for the organization throughout the offseason.
“Since they locked up Schwarber, the Phillies’ main focus has been retaining J.T. Realmuto,” Murray said Wednesday. “They want him back, though other teams are also involved, so it’s not guaranteed. Still, their interest is clear. I’ve said this about the Dodgers when they set their sights on top players, and it applies to the Phillies as well. When they truly want someone, how often do they miss? We’ll see what happens, but there’s a strong connection there.”
Realmuto is a three-time All-Star who has also earned three Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves. While his defensive performance has shown signs of decline, he continues to possess one of the strongest throwing arms among catchers. Offensively, however, he is coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career, posting his lowest OPS since 2015.
Despite his age and recent downturn, Realmuto remains the Phillies’ best option behind the plate. Neither Garrett Stubbs nor Rafael Marchán would provide a stronger chance to contend. Philadelphia will be cautious about committing too much money, but even with the risks involved, Realmuto still stands as their top choice at catcher.