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Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto Sends Clear Message About Future Ahead of Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 10:26 AM ET

All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto’s next contract could be his final one, whether it’s with the Philadelphia Phillies or another club.

Don’t get things twisted: Realmuto, who turned 34 in March, has no intentions of retiring anytime soon. Barring anything unexpected, you’ll see Realmuto behind the plate and mashing homers next season.

However, the three-time All-Star acknowledged he knows he won’t be in the majors forever—and the clock is inching closer to midnight.

“Either my performance or body will tell me first, or my family will,” Realmuto told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

Realmuto entered Friday batting .240 with five home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .661 OPS. He’s on pace for his worst offensive season since 2015, and his below-average OPS is easily a career-low.

For his part, Realmuto said his body feels good midway through the season. He’s still expected to command a multi-year deal in free agency.

“I want to continue to have fun,” Realmuto said. “I’ll know when it’s time to hang ’em up.

“If I’m not productive, if I’m not helping the team, I’m not going to try to get to the number 40,” Realmuto added.

It is unclear how much longer Realmuto will remain a full-time catcher. He hasn’t played first base since 2022, and he’s received limited DH reps since the universal rule’s inception four years ago.

Realmuto is a lifetime .270 hitter with 173 home runs, 652 RBIs, and a .776 OPS in 12 seasons. We’ll see how much longer he adds to those totals while wearing a Phillies uniform.

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

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