The Phillies face a pretty straightforward decision this winter: bring back J.T. Realmuto or scramble to find a starting catcher in the thinnest market in years.
Here’s the thing about this year’s free agent catching crop – it’s basically Realmuto and then a bunch of backup options. No one else available looks like a legitimate everyday starter, while the Phillies’ longtime backstop still very much fits that description.
That makes his market fascinating to watch. Sure, he’s turning 35 in March and had a down year by his standards. But he’s also miles better than anything else out there.
The Phillies would obviously love to have him back, though other teams will certainly make their pitches. The way I see it, Philadelphia’s got more reasons to retain him than to let him walk.
That’s the takeaway from a new piece by MLB.com’s Andrew Simon, who calls the Phillies the “perfect fit” for Realmuto.
“While there are reasons for the Phillies to be skittish about re-committing to a catcher who will turn 35 in March and is showing clear signs of decline, there are even clearer reasons for them to bring back Realmuto for an eighth season in Philadelphia. This is a team with obvious urgency to capitalize on its championship window and one whose current catching situation without Realmuto is projected at the very bottom of the league.”
Simon’s got a point about the urgency factor. The Phillies already brought back Kyle Schwarber on a one-year deal, signaling they’re not ready to blow things up just yet.
There was some chatter earlier this winter about Philadelphia potentially moving on from chunks of their core to freshen things up. But the Schwarber signing suggests they’re sticking with the group that’s gotten them to the postseason three of the last four years.
That approach makes a lot less sense without Realmuto behind the plate.
Look at it this way – if you’re not going to find an upgrade in free agency or trade (and you’re not), why create a massive hole at one of baseball’s most important positions? Especially when you’ve got a championship window that’s still open.
There’s probably another team or two out there trying to bid up Realmuto’s price, but the Phillies would be making a mistake if they let him slip away. Sometimes the best move is the obvious one.
