NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 20: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in the dugout before the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 20, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies have some important decisions to make this winter as the team looks to capitalize on a rapidly closing window for its highest paid stars.
With roster staples like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola all entering the final years of their primes, the Phillies could be running out of time to earn a World Series championship with its core. And with only two playoff wins in the last two seasons combined, it’s pretty clear that some changes are called for.
But while the team looks to execute those changes, it will also have to decide whether it wants to negotiate returns for departing free agents like Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez and JT Realmuto. It seems unlikely that the team will be able to bring all of its departing players back, but Schwarber and Realmuto have emerged as the priorities.
“Retaining Schwarber has been a stated top priority for the Phillies, and it sure makes sense,” Theo DeRosa wrote for MLB.com. “The Phillies may not be able to bring back Suarez, but Realmuto is easily the best free-agent option at his position, and retaining him would be a logical move.”
Realmuto seems to have lost a step in recent seasons, but the Phillies don’t have much of a backup plan if they are unable to re-sign him. The next catcher up on the depth chart is Rafael Marchan, and he does not yet seem capable as a primary backstop for a World Series team.
But as the Phillies look to bring Realmuto back, they will face competition from rival clubs. The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are among the contending teams that could use an upgrade at the catcher position.
However, the Phillies got some good news from Major League Baseball insiders Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney concerning one rival that might have been seen as a threat to steal Realmuto.
“As things stand, the Texas Rangers’ acquisition of left fielder Brandon Nimmo for second baseman Marcus Semien might be the biggest move they make this offseason,” Rosenthal and Mooney wrote for The Athletic. “The Rangers need to reconstruct their bullpen and find a catcher to replace Jonah Heim, whom they non-tendered. But according to team sources, Texas lacks the payroll flexibility to sign top free-agent catcher JT Realmuto, a native of Oklahoma.”
With the Rangers reportedly ruled out of the running, the Phillies might have just gotten that much closer to a reunion with their veteran backstop.