Phillies Resign J.t. Realmuto On A Three-year Deal After Failing To Land Bo Bichette

Nope. This isn’t nan article reporting Bo Bichette signed pinch nan Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, this is simply a panic move and an effort astatine pleasing nan Phillies’ fanbase aft missing retired connected Bichette past pivoting to bring backmost J.T. Realmuto.

Following Bichette inking a three-year, $126 cardinal woody pinch nan New York Mets, nan Phillies made nan move to location successful connected Realmuto, thing that Philadelphia's been trying to do since their play concluded.

Step 1 of nan Phillies' offseason checklist was completed erstwhile Kyle Schwarber resigned pinch nan Phillies connected a five-year, $150 cardinal deal. Step 2 was figuring retired who will beryllium down nan sheet catching. Well aft signing an upgraded type of Nick Castellanos successful Adolis García to play correct field, addressing nan bullpen issues to land Brad Keller positive different arms, going done an entire Rule-5 draft, and expressing an liking successful Bichette, measurement 2 fundamentally became measurement 7 aliases eight. Regardless of nan offseason moves, 1 subordinate remained nan attraction for Phillies wide head Rob Thomson to capable that catching void.

“We want J.T. back,” Thomson said. “He is truthful important. I’ve been astir a batch of awesome catchers. Posada, McCann, Rodríguez, and he’s arsenic bully arsenic immoderate of them.”

The Phillies moreover placed an connection connected nan array for Realmuto, but nary action came and fans were still waiting complete a period later. Realmuto explored nan free supplier marketplace and nan Phillies did nan aforesaid pinch nan action of Minnesota Twins’ Ryan Jeffers perchance replacing Realmuto being discussed.

Despite each nan uncertainties and Philadelphia headed southbound for outpouring training successful 3 weeks, nan Phillies officially person their catcher done nan 2027 play and it’s a acquainted face.

Realmuto agreed connected a three-year woody worthy $45 cardinal successful Philadelphia and comes pinch incentives that tin make nan statement reached $60 million, per MLB Insider Robert Murray.

The value tag and magnitude of nan statement isn’t nan top considering an aging Realmuto turns 35 successful March. It’s a $8.1 cardinal AAV salary trim from his erstwhile five-year, $115.5 cardinal statement he signed successful 2021 pinch nan Phillies. Realmuto will beryllium nan 2nd astir costly catcher successful 2026 successful position of his $15 cardinal AAV down Cal Raleigh ($17.5M).

With nary standout catchers successful their system, it was captious for Philadelphia to resign Realmuto aliases find a dependable replacement. Jeffers hasn’t reached 90 games down nan sheet successful a azygous play complete his six-year career. Other imaginable backstop substitutes successful Jonah Heim and Victor Caratini don’t person nan familiarity that Realmuto has pinch Philadelphia’s existent pitchers.

“The biggest point is seeing really prepared he is each nan time. You get to nan section and he's already doing work, he's already watching video, taking notes. He has specified a bully knowing of really each feline wants to onslaught a lineup,” Jesús Luzardo said. “He's ever fresh to spell connected nan section and he does specified a bully occupation backmost there. We person a batch of religion and a batch of assurance successful him backmost there.”

These adjacent 2 seasons shouldn’t beryllium thing different successful position of Realmuto’s production. Realmuto caught 132 games past year. He’s been highly durable crossed his 6,699.2 innings spent down nan sheet successful Philadelphia. Realmuto started successful 768 retired of 1,032 games (74.4%) for nan Phillies arsenic their catcher since 2019 and has suited up successful 80.7% of their matchups including nan games spent arsenic a first baseman aliases designated hitter. He’s been a captious portion of nan City of Brotherly Love complete these past 7 seasons done his elite defense and helping each Phillies' pitcher that steps connected nan mound.

Realmuto held nan fastest popular clip successful 2025 astatine 1.86 seconds to 2nd base. He erstwhile again proved himself arsenic 1 of nan apical protect catchers gunning down 30 runners, 2nd astir successful baseball, and presenting a respectable .995 fielding percentage.

At nan plate, Realmuto has slipped successful nan violative class displaying a 2.5 WAR successful 2025, his lowest since 2020. He isn’t nan feline who tin deed 20+ location runs and sheet 70+ runners anymore, but his .257 batting mean and .700 OPS past twelvemonth were tolerable erstwhile Philadelphia has players including Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Schwarber who are astatine nan forefront of nan Phillies' lineup and expected to put nan squad connected their backs.

Realmuto seemed to scope guidelines successful each astatine bat from July to late-August erstwhile he batted .340 and plated 17 runners. He was a prime fewer of nan Phillies who carried their weight offensively successful nan National League Division Series going 6-for-17 pinch 4 other guidelines hits and 3 RBIs.

The Red Sox, Pirates, and Rangers were willing successful nan three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove catcher early on, however, Realmuto returning to nan Phillies felt for illustration a fixed contempt each nan rumors and agelong hold to sign.

Now that Realmuto's woody is done, it seems that nan Phillies are set. Philadelphia’s President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski appeared to beryllium contented aft nan García signing pinch his outfield indicating Brandon Marsh and a right-handed hitter platoon successful Otto Kemp aliases Weston Wilson will beryllium successful near field, García is successful correct field, and Justin Crawford tin person his large break successful centerfield. Gabriel Rincones Jr. was mentioned excessively successful consideration, dissimilar Castellanos whose Phillies' profession is borderline over. It's reported that nan Royals are willing successful Harrison Bader too, who is seeking a three-year woody excessively that fundamentally eliminates a ‘Bader Tots’ return to Philadelphia.

Time will tell, but nan Phillies must beryllium pleased to person Realmuto backmost connected apical of resigning Schwarber positive landing García and a fewer major-league knowledgeable arms successful nan bullpen.

The fanbase would request a differ.

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