Stay or Go: Should the Phillies re-sign J.T. Realmuto?
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, one of the cornerstones of the franchise since he arrived in 2019, will become a free agent once again this offseason. Back in 2021, he signed a five-year contract to stay in Philadelphia as the team bet on his ability to age better than the average backstop. Overall, that deal was a success for both sides.
But will Realmuto and the Phillies come together for another contract prior to the 2026 season? And should the club make that kind of commitment to a catcher who has accomplished so much in red pinstripes but will turn 35 next year?
That’s exactly what our writers broke down in the second installment of the Phillies Nation Stay or Go series. Read what they had to say, and then vote in the poll below. Poll results for all Stay or Go candidates will be revealed at the end of the series.
Destiny Lugardo — Site Director — Stay
If the Phillies believe that Realmuto is as important to the pitching staff as he is, paying him again should be a no-brainer. The bigger question is whether or not Realmuto has another above average offensive season in him over the next two to three years. His .700 OPS in 2025 was his lowest in a full season since 2015.
Ty Daubert — Editorial Director — Stay
The decline has certainly begun for Realmuto, who just finished his 12th season in the big leagues. But he sure beats the alternatives available for the Phillies right now. While the catcher has a lot of wear and tear, he stayed as durable as any catcher in 2024, leading all backstops in games started and innings caught. He also produced with his bat in the National League Division Series. As long as the club can keep Realmuto on a contract of two – maybe three – years, the longtime Phillies catcher should remain in Philadelphia.
Bailey Digh — Staff Writer — Stay
Paying a catcher who turns 35 in March to the type of deal Realmuto feels likely to sign might not be the best idea. But the Phillies are between a rock and a hard place here. Realmuto’s offensive production is probably done being above average. But his value to the Phillies’ pitching program as a whole is so important. Realmuto is responsible for a lot, and there really isn’t a better fit – internally or externally – for the Phillies than him.
Nathan Ackerman — Staff Writer — Stay
For all the talk about revamping the roster, the Phillies need to double down on the rotation as their biggest strength, and that means keeping Realmuto. He turns 35 in March and the bat is obviously declining. But Phillies fans have been spoiled with stellar offense from their catcher; a 91 OPS+ this season is quite fine for a backstop, and he can’t become a total black hole offensively in just two years’ time, right? The team needs to finally follow through on its annual promise to lessen his workload, which may necessitate an external answer as the backup. But if the Phillies can keep him around the next two years for $26-ish million, they should.