Now that the Phillies have checked off their top offseason priority by re-signing star DH Kyle Schwarber, they can shift their focus to J.T. Realmuto. The veteran catcher hit free agency after seven seasons in Philadelphia, and the club would like to keep him in the fold.
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the Phillies have already extended a contract offer to Realmuto, with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski expressing optimism about their chances. Realmuto is the premier catcher available on the open market and has been a steady contributor during his time in Philadelphia. Still, with the former All-Star heading into his age-35 season, there are legitimate questions about what lies ahead.
Here are three major questions surrounding a potential reunion between Realmuto and the Phillies.
What’s the case for bringing Realmuto back?
The rationale for re-signing Realmuto is simple. He stands well above the rest of the catching options in free agency, has been exceptionally durable at a physically demanding position and has been a core piece of the Phillies since arriving from Miami in 2019.
Realmuto appeared in 134 games in 2025, including a league-high 132 behind the plate. Outside of COVID-19 protocols, he has hit the injured list just twice with Philadelphia: a left hand contusion in 2021 and right knee surgery in 2024. He has also played in all 38 of the team’s postseason games since 2022, producing seven home runs — highlighted by an inside-the-park homer in the 2022 NLDS against Atlanta and a walk-off blast in extra innings of Game 1 of the 2022 World Series.
Despite his age and the physical toll of catching, Realmuto continues to shine in several areas. His throwing arm remains elite, as his 1.86-second average pop time to second base in 2025 was tied for the best in MLB, and his +6 Caught Stealing Above Average ranked among the top catchers in the league.
He also remains unusually athletic for the position. Realmuto’s 28.4 ft/sec sprint speed placed him in the 76th percentile leaguewide, and his eight stolen bases were tied for third among primary catchers. Offensively, his blend of power and speed remains rare at the position, as he hit 12 home runs in 2025 to reach double-digit homers for the 11th straight season.
Given the lack of obvious alternatives and his consistent production, keeping Realmuto makes plenty of sense for a Phillies team intent on preserving its core after investing heavily to bring Schwarber back.
What are the concerns moving forward?
While Realmuto has largely fended off the effects of aging, time is still undefeated. As he approaches his age-35 season in 2026, signs of decline began to surface in 2025, raising concerns — particularly if Philadelphia is considering a multi-year commitment. After a strong 2024 from a Statcast perspective, Realmuto regressed in nearly every offensive category in 2025, resulting in his weakest offensive showing in roughly a decade.
His traditional slash line dipped, and his underlying metrics followed suit, including expected batting average, expected slugging, expected wOBA, hard-hit rate, barrel rate, chase rate and whiff rate. Much of that decline appears tied to reduced bat speed. Realmuto’s average bat speed dropped to 72.0 mph in 2025, landing in the 47th percentile after ranking in the 70th percentile the previous season.
Defensively, Realmuto again graded poorly as a pitch framer, finishing tied for 50th out of 57 qualified catchers with -8 framing runs. While the incoming ABS challenge system could reduce the importance of framing, it remains a useful skill — and one Realmuto hasn’t consistently provided since his standout 2022 season. His blocking also slipped, as he posted -4 blocks above average in 2025 after a -2 mark in 2024.
Finally, even with his exceptional durability, age remains a concern. Realmuto became the first catcher age 34 or older to catch at least 125 games in a season since Yadier Molina in 2017. The last 35-year-old catcher to do so was A.J. Pierzynski in 2012. While Realmuto has been remarkably reliable to this point, it’s unlikely he can sustain such a heavy workload going forward, and avoiding the injured list may become increasingly difficult.