This past season was like no other with the COVID-19 pandemic. That was also the case for catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Phillies star went on fire for the first part of the 2020 60-game sprint. He came back down to earth as the season progressed but he played extremely well overall. The 29-year-old from Oklahoma will be one of the most sought after free agents on the market this winter.
Details
A third-rounder by the Marlins in 2010, Realmuto was part of a new wave of players in Miami to help another playoff run somewhat like the way the Marlins ended and started the 20th and 21st centuries. From being drafted in 2010 until his callup in 2014, the dynamic catcher showed off his speed-power combination which is rare in catchers. Pair that with his stellar defense and strong arm, you have an extremely dynamic catcher. In 2015 Realmuto stole the starting job in Miami and kept that long term. Realmuto was very impressive as a rookie batting .259 with 10 home runs, 47 RBI’s eight stolen bases, and seven triples. Realmuto finally was recognized for his unique talent in 2018 being selected to his first All-Star team. The Marlins star also got the honor of playing for the MLB team in the Japan All-Star series. That offseason the Marlins continued their infamous tear down of stars, trading their star catcher to the division-rival Phillies for a haul of prospects including Sixto Sanchez. He played extremely well in 2019 and 2020 for Philly but despite their efforts, they have been unable to come to an agreement on an extension.
In Realmuto’s career, he has a .278 average with 95 home runs, 358 RBI’s 44 stolen bases, and 749 hits, with a .328 OBP.
Ideal Contract
Realmuto is looking at one of the largest catcher contracts ever. He would be seeking a deal worth over $200 million and around six to seven years. That comes out to between $28-$34 million a year which is a huge ask that likely won’t be met. The Phillies have the obvious advantage of being the current employer but also have had time to work out an extension. The Mets are one team in large need of a two-way catcher that they haven’t had since Mike Piazza in the early 2000s. The Mets who just went through a team sale have a new owner in Steve Cohen who is ready to spill out his cash. Another team could possibly be the St. Louis Cardinals who are rumored to be moving on from Yadier Molina. Despite having Andrew Knizner, they would benefit from a catcher with more experience like Realmuto.
Top Landing Spots
New York Mets:
The Mets have the ability to give Realmuto the contract that he demands as their new owner, Steve Cohen has over $14 billion at his disposal. Realmuto has reportedly not been so keen on New York so it remains to be seen.
St. Louis Cardinals:
The Cardinals appear to be leaving the Molina era. They have a young catcher in Knizner in the wings but they may be more interested in Realmuto and the dynamic that he brings to the field. They already have a great core with Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong and adding Realmuto would make the lineup downright scary.
Philadelphia Phillies:
The Phillies may want to keep their generational talent that they spent a farm system on. Keeping him along with Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins would create problems for opponents for a long time.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
