Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Phillies' J.T. Realmuto Sends Message to Coaching Staff Amid Important Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated May 7, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Getting older is something every player in Major League Baseball has to deal with, and that’s been the case for J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies.

One of the top catchers in Major League Baseball over much of the past decade, Realmuto has started to slow down a bit over the past few seasons, which may not come as a surprise to most.

Despite the below-average play in recent years, Realmuto has been a steady player in the Phillies' lineup outside of injuries. In 2025, he's already played 29 games, but has struggled, posting a below-league-average 95 OPS+ and .248 batting average.

It's led to questions around the league, something the Phillies will likely have to deal with over the next few months.

“Which leads to the questions,” Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote. “Because Realmuto is a 34-year-old catcher. And when any 34-year-old catcher — especially one who starts darned near every day and is in the last year of a five-year, $115.5 million contract — slumps at the plate, the questions tend to hang like storm clouds.”

However, Realmuto, who's currently playing in the final season of his five-year, $115.5 million deal, insisted that he feels great and doesn't need any days off.

“I feel great,” he said.

There are positives and negatives to giving Realmuto days off.

Perhaps the Phillies could view him as somebody who could turn things around if he has a couple of days off, but it's also important to recognize that his bat hasn't lived up to standards.

Not seeing pitching every day might not change that, something the Phillies have to consider in their future decisions.

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

More must-reads: