Phillies to re-sign J.T. Realmuto

It took some time, but J.T. Realmuto will return for an eighth season with the Phillies. He is reportedly close to a deal to re-sign with the Phillies, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. It’s a three-year, $45 million deal with a chance to get as high as $60 million, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

His free agency was complicated. The Phillies reportedly had an offer on the table in December. Realmuto and the Phillies were at a standstill for weeks. It led to Philadelphia turning their attention to Bo Bichette. They ultimately didn’t land him, leading to a reunion with the veteran catcher. Bichette reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with the New York Mets.

Signing Realmuto to a new deal was a priority for the Phillies entering this offseason.

“This guy, to me, is the most prepared guy I’ve ever been around as a catcher,” manager Rob Thomson said about Realmuto in October. “He will spend hours watching video, making up his own game plan and matching it up with Caleb (Cotham) and talking with the pitchers. He’s got a great feel for in-game adjustments: When to go to the mound, when to change the pitch, when to change the location. I can’t put a number on it, but it’s significant. He’s just that good.”

Realmuto is entering his age-35 season in 2026. He has started in at least 130 games behind the plate in three out of the last four seasons. The last player to start at least 130 games at catcher in his age 35 or above season is Jason Kendall in 2009. Remaining durable will be an even bigger challenge as he ages.

At the plate, Realmuto is hoping for a bounce back. His .700 OPS was his lowest in a full season since 2015.

This is the second time the Phillies have re-signed Realmuto in free agency. During the 2020-21 offseason, Realmuto signed a five-year, $115.5 million contract with the Phillies. His $23.1 million average annual value broke the record for the highest AAV among catchers.