The Philadelphia Phillies have their sights set on October for the 2025 season. While running away with the National League East, Philadelphia made all the right moves at the 2025 trade deadline to add to its already stacked roster. Now, they are aiming for a deep October run. They were handed devastating news that Zack Wheeler will miss the rest of the 2025 season, but still have the star power to scare opposing NL clubs.
With Dave Dombrowski as the president of baseball operations, the Phillies remain one of the most active teams in MLB regarding player turnover and trades. With catcher J.T. Realmuto’s time as the Phillies catcher potentially coming to an end, it might be time for Dombrowski to start thinking about the future.
J.T. Realmuto’s Replacement Could Be Adley Rutschman
The speculation on the trade market of Baltimore Orioles‘ Adley Rutschman continues to grow as the MLB regular season is coming to an end in about a month. Realmuto has had a few down seasons with the Phillies as of late, and since he’s a free agent after this season, it’s unlikely the Phillies will re-sign him.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer recently came out with a piece naming the top destinations for Rutschman, and the Phillies came in at third on the list:
The Phillies could always bring Realmuto back, but signs that it’s time to move on are everywhere. He’s 34 years old and he hasn’t been an impact hitter since 2022, posting just a 105 OPS+ over the last three seasons. Saying goodbye to Realmuto only to turn around and deal for Rutschman would be right up the alley of Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. It would also be a good fit timing-wise, as the Phillies‘ core may not be tenable beyond the two years standing between Rutschman and free agency. Otherwise, he’d surely like hitting at Citizens Bank Park. It’s a hitters’ park all the way, and could especially do wonders for reviving his power.”
Being with the Phillies would be a drastic turnaround for Rutschman, going from a last-place team to a first-place team. However, considering the depth of the Phillies‘ lineup, it may also alleviate some pressure Adley has faced in Baltimore to succeed. Rutschman has battled injuries, but his offensive numbers have dropped sharply over the past two seasons compared with the two seasons when he earned consecutive All-Star selections.
What Would Philly Have to Give Up for Adley?
Rymer noted that the Phillies would give up their fourth, eighth, and 11th-ranked prospects. That would be an insane haul for the Orioles, especially considering they may have already locked down catcher replacement Samuel Basallo to an eight-year extension. Rutschman also needs an extension, which Baltimore seems unwilling to agree on. That means that Rutschman should want out of the Orioles organization if they aren’t going to pay him, and he could fall right into the lap of Dave Dombrowski.
Now, the prospect haul that Rymer suggests may be too much for Dombrowski to agree on, but the Phillies could include an MLB-level pitcher (preferably) in the deal to make it complete.
Phillies Trade Proposal Nets J.T. Realmuto Replacement With Two-Time All-Star