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Phillies' J.T. Realmuto Predicted to Only Return in Free Agency on One Condition

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 3:30 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies will have to decide if they want to keep Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto around in free agency this winter. It's possible that the Phillies only keep one of them, and if that's the case, Schwarber should be the player they decide to keep.

While Realmuto is still an above-average catcher and a well-loved veteran around the clubhouse, he isn't what he once was, and it's tough to ignore that.

Playing on the final season of a five-year, $115.5 million deal, Realmuto should be much cheaper in free agency.

Teams will value having an above-average defensive catcher and a decent offensive player, but the reality is, he won't get nearly as much as he did a few years ago.

When looking at what he could land, Philly Sports Network wrote that it's possible he could return, but that he'd be much cheaper this time around.

“Realmuto is making 23.875 million in the final year of his deal. He is the highest-paid catcher in baseball based on average annual value and trails only Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the highest-paid catcher in terms of contract total. If he is going to return to the Phillies next season or even beyond, he will have to take a reduced salary,” they wrote.

Writer Matt Watson didn't give an exact number, but something close to half of this would make sense. If Realmuto wants to stay in Philadelphia, perhaps he’ll take a team-friendly deal.

If not, he should do more than fine on the open market.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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