PHILADELPHIA – “Realmuto can run for days,” exclaimed Fox Sports announcer Joe Davis during the 2022 NLDS.
Realmuto was rounding the bases for an inside-the-park home run that gave the Phillies a 4-1 lead. The Phillies would later go on to win the series just a few innings later. A week later, they won the National League pennant. A few days later, JT Realmuto would hit the go-ahead home run in the 10th for an extra-inning victory over the Houston Astros.
In 2022, JT Realmuto was widely regarded as the best catcher in baseball. After being acquired by the Phillies in a deal with the Miami Marlins in 2019, JT shined in Philadelphia.
His 2022 season and playoff run were one of the best seasons for a Phillies catcher ever, and his efforts were huge in getting the club a National League championship.
With the conclusion of the 2024 season, JT Realmuto is no longer sitting on the throne of catchers. His numbers have started to decline, injuries are starting to pop up with age, and a hitless NLDS against the Mets has been highlighted tremendously since the end of the season.
Realmuto is under contract for one more season in Philadelphia. This will be his 7th season in a Phillies uniform. Depending on his performance, it just might be his last.
The Real Deal
If you look back at JT Realmuto’s tenure in Philadelphia, you might be surprised with how great he’s played.
In six seasons, Realmuto (23.2) has risen to 3rd place in fWAR all-time for the Phillies’ catchers. He trails Jack Clements (25.9) and Darren Dalton (24.4) and should pass both players in 2025. Clements has played over 300 more games than Realmuto, and Dalton played 600 more games than JT.
Amongst his peers in modern baseball, JT has excelled as well. Since joining the Phillies in 2019, Realmuto has caught more innings than any other catcher. He has played in 62 more games than Christian Vazquez, who is second in this time span.
JT’s fWAR as a Phillie is also 4.7 higher than Will Smith of the Dodgers, who sits behind him in that category. He has won 2 Gold Gloves, 2 Silver Sluggers, is a 2-time All-Star, and finished 7th in MVP voting in 2022.
There is no doubt that the addition of the Stalworth catcher has been tremendous for the Phillies. But as catchers age, their offensive numbers often decline. With a major knee injury in 2024, Realmuto missed a lot of time. It felt like he never returned to the same form he was playing at in the beginning of the season, and while an off-season might help, can the Phillies afford to bank on him returning to form?
Other than Realmuto
If the Phillies are looking to move on from JT Realmuto after 2025, that player is currently not on the roster.
Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchan were the club’s backup options this past season. Both played well when they had opportunities, but many would agree Marchan shined the brightest. Rafael no longer has minor league options, so it is expected he will be in play for the backup catcher role. He hit .294 with an .894 OPS and 147 OPS+ in 17 games this season with the Phillies.
The team should have kept him on the roster when JT Realmuto returned, but they opted to allow Marchan to play more in Triple-A. The one major issue with Rafael is his health. He has dealt with injuries in nearly every season, taking him off the field for long stretches.
Garrett Stubbs has left a mark on the Phillies since arriving in 2022. The last three seasons have seen Stubbs as a reliable backup option. Garrett, however, is not the caliber of player that you would seemingly have replaced JT. Stubbs hit .207 with a .558 OPS and 59 OPS+ in 54 games in 2024. His offensive numbers certainly do not match up with Marchan’s, even though it was a larger sample size.
The catchers in the minor leagues are currently not on the club’s radar. The only prospect the team values highly is Eduardo Tait, an 18-year-old catcher in Single-A. He is expected to be Major League ready by 2028, which means he is not in the team’s current plans.
2025 and Beyond
There is little doubt that JT Realmuto will be the Opening Day starter for the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies.
He has earned that designation, and barring unforeseen issues, you can pencil that one in with confidence. However, it is beyond 2025 that begins to get fuzzy.
Rob Thomson mentioned during his end-of-season press conference about the need to get veteran players more rest during the season. He specifically called out Realmuto’s name and referenced giving him more days off his feet.
If the Phillies plan to do that, they need to figure out a backup option worthy of playing more. Chances are, that will be Rafael Marchan in 2025. But once Realmuto’s contract expires, the Phillies will have to figure out what their plans will be.
Extending the veteran is an option, but that will all be based on performance. His last extension was for 5 seasons, and the Phillies wouldn’t likely go more than 3 seasons on a new deal. If Realmuto plays well, the simple solution is short-term contracts. That is more team-friendly, however, and an elite season in 2025 could give JT the confidence to test the free-agent waters.
The Phillies could take a gamble and sign JT to an extension before the 2025 season begins. Adding on two seasons, for example, could mitigate risk and lock him up through the 2027 season. At that point, Realmuto would be 36 years old.
Navigating this situation while making improvements to the roster and maintaining a payroll will be the challenges faced by Dave Dombrowski. Dave has made the big signings in Philadelphia, but he hasn’t quite made the big splash he is known for. As the off-season plays out, the catching situation in Philadelphia is one to keep an eye on.
Photo Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
