Major League Baseball’s free agency is really starting to heat up after the recent signings of Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. The National League is now starting to become an arms race like the AL had been to start the offseason.
After the Philadelphia Phillies were closely linked to Bichette and missed out, Robert Murray of FanSided reported Friday that the Phillies have agreed with catcher J.T. Realmuto on a three-year, $45 million deal. Realmuto is by far the best catcher on the free agency market, and he uses his leverage to strike a $15 million AAV deal. The contract has a chance to reach a value of $60 million.
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J.T. Realmuto Back With Phillies on Three-Year Deal
J.T. Realmuto has made a name as one of the premier offensive backstops in MLB over the last decade, and while his production has decreased in recent seasons, he still holds a lot of baggage in terms of accolades.
He’s a three-time All-Star, 3X Silver Slugger, and multi-time Gold Glove winner.
Realmuto is a career. 270 hitter with 170 home runs and 677 RBIs over his 12-year MLB career. He’s spent all 12 of those seasons in the National League East, and that will continue for the next three seasons.
He’s become a fan favorite in Philly for his countless postseason moments.
GettyPhiladelphia Phillies’ Catcher JT Realmuto
In 833 games with the Phillies, Realmuto has 121 home runs and an OPS+ of 110.
However, both of those marks have taken a dip over the past two seasons. In 2025, Realmuto hit 12 home runs with an OPS+ of 91 and a batting average of .257. However, those are still good marks for a catcher, and he provides immense value as the everyday catcher.
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What Does this Deal Mean for the Phillies, J.T. Realmuto?
For the Phillies, this is an important signing. Philadelphia has brought back DH Kyle Schwarber this offseason, but was unable to retain starter Ranger Suarez.
For Realmuto, this is a big contract for a 34-year-old catcher, and it will be the biggest deal handed out to a catcher by a mile this offseason.
But it must have become very clear to Dave Dombrowski and the rest of the Phillies’ front office that after missing out on Bo Bichette, they had to sign Realmuto, as taking a chance on another catcher in free agency, or using an internal option behind the plate that wasn’t Realmuto in 2026 would not help their chances to compete in a tough National League.
The $15 million AAV might be considered a slight overpay in a few years, especially if his production continues to fall.
However, it’s possible J.T. Realmuto’s 2025 season was an anomaly, as he’s been an above-average hitter for the first 11 years of his career in terms of OPS+, and that is clearly enough to land him this lucrative contract.
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Phillies Re-Sign J.T. Realmuto to $45 Million Deal As MLB Free Agency Heats Up