Details on J.T. Realmuto’s contract with Phillies, incentives

It took a long time, but catcher J.T. Realmuto is back with the Phillies on a new three-year deal. The deal was made official early Tuesday morning. 

Realmuto waited out the market and got what he wanted: three years, an average annual value of $15 million per season and a return to the place he never really wanted to leave.

But the plans were very close to changing. The Phillies wanted Bo Bichette, and Realmuto knew that the Phillies were going to move on from him if they got their guy. Dave Dombrowski in a Zoom press conference on Tuesday that it was an either/or situation. 

“At the end, it got a little stressful where we thought there was a chance we weren’t going to be back,” Realmuto said. 

But to the Phillies’ surprise, Bichette at the last minute received an offer from the New York Mets he couldn’t refuse: three years, $42 million per season, an opt out after every season and a $5 million bonus if he chooses to opt out. 

The Phillies and Bichette never signed a “memo of understanding” on an agreement. 

“We thought we were very close to having a deal done,” Dombrowski said about a potential deal with Bichette. “We thought it was going to happen, but it wasn’t done.” 

Dombrowski, after informing managing partner John Middleton of Bichette’s decision, reached out to Realmuto’s agent, CAA’s Matt Ricatto, to close the deal. 

“We’re thrilled that J.T. is back because that was always a priority for us over the wintertime,” Dombrowski said. “We think he was the best catcher out there as far as free agency was concerned.” 

Realmuto’s deal also includes an incentives package. Surprisingly, none are tied to games started behind the plate. Realmuto, in the final season of his five-year, $115.5 million deal with the Phillies in 2025, started in 132 games behind the plate. 

Realmuto can significantly increase his salary if he hits these yearly incentives, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press: 

– $2 million if elected to the All-Star Game as a starter via the fan vote. 

– $1 million if selected to the All-Star Game as a reserve. 

– $1 million for winning the Gold Glove or Silver Slugger. 

–  $2 million for finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting. 

Realmuto also has a no-trade clause. He earned his 10-5 no-trade rights (10 years of service time, 5 years with one team) in 2024.