Phillies Face Tough Decision: Re-Signing J.T. Realmuto Seems Necessary
The Philadelphia Phillies appear to have little choice but to bring back veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto for the 2026 season after another solid year in 2025.
Realmuto, now 34, has lived up to much of his five-year, $115 million deal signed before the 2021 season. Few catchers combine his offensive skill and defensive reliability. Since joining Philadelphia, he’s maintained a .262/.327/.437 slash line with an .763 OPS, along with 85 home runs and 319 RBIs. Over that span, he earned All-Star honors (2021), a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger (2022), and even placed seventh in National League MVP voting.
In 2025, Realmuto’s production remained steady, though his power numbers declined for the second straight year. He finished the season batting .257 with a .700 OPS, 12 home runs, and 52 RBIs across 134 games. His defensive stats, however, stayed elite—ranking among the top catchers in caught-stealing rate (+6) and pop time (1.86 seconds, 99th percentile per Baseball Savant).
Behind him, Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs provided limited support. Marchán hit .210 with just two home runs and 13 RBIs over 42 games, while Stubbs contributed sparingly. Neither appears capable of assuming a full-time starting role.
At Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Payton Henry was the most productive catcher, but his Major League experience is minimal. Philadelphia’s top catching prospect, Caleb Ricketts, finished the year at Double-A Reading, batting .275 with eight homers and 34 RBIs — promising numbers, but not yet enough to justify a Major League call-up.
Realmuto declined to discuss his upcoming free agency following the Phillies’ NLDS loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, the club must also consider retaining Kyle Schwarber and Ranger Suárez, creating potential financial strain.
While the Phillies could look elsewhere for a designated hitter or starting pitcher, replacing Realmuto behind the plate would be far more difficult. Given the lack of reliable depth at the position, bringing him back for at least one more season seems like the team’s best option.
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