Top Landing Spots for Free Agent J.T. Realmuto

Free Agent Landing Spots for J.T. Realmuto

Philadelphia Phillies

The most natural and likely fit remains a reunion with the Philadelphia Phillies, who are still firmly in their World Series window. The issue for Philadelphia is without Realmuto, the only catchers on the roster are Rafael Marchan and Garrett Stubbs, with no clear successor waiting in the minors.

Entering the 2026 season without a legitimate replacement for Realmuto would be a tough sell for Phillies fans as the roster continues to age.

Retaining his services may not be as simple as it may look though. According to Phillies insider Matt Gelb, rival executives expect Realmuto’s market to be more active than some might assume.

“But some rival executives expect Realmuto to draw more free-agent interest this winter than Kyle Schwarber. That’s not to suggest Realmuto will receive a larger deal than Schwarber; he won’t. But the sheer number of teams interested in Realmuto could boost his market.”

If the Phillies want to bring back their backstop of the last five years, they’ll need to move quickly. The familiarity with Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, and comfort in Philadelphia all work in their favor. Dave Dombrowski is no stranger to spending money, and he will have to do so yet again

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are coming off a 90-win season that ended in a Wild Card exit to the Cubs. Looking towards 2026, their hopes are to not just return to the playoffs, but to compete for a ring and knock off the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

While the lineup looks strong, anchored by Fernando Tatís Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill, the catching position remains a weak spot.

Elias Díaz and Freddy Fermín, after being acquire at the deadline, provided below-average offense last season, and Realmuto would represent a clear upgrade both at the plate and behind it.

The concern for San Diego is age. Their core is already on the older side, and committing significant money to a 35-year-old catcher carries risk, even if just one or two years. With the Dodgers riding a four-year NL West title streak and back-to-back World Series wins, the Padres may need to take a calculated risk to close the gap.

It would be understandable if they hesitate to bring in another player above the age of 30 to add to their aging lineup. Paying a catcher at 35 years old the amount of money it may take to secure Realmuto’s services is a risky one.

Pitching may be their top priority this winter, as they are set to potentially lose both Dylan Cease and Michael King. But if they look to the offensive side of the ball, upgrading at catcher could be the move that balances their lineup.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs had an up-and-down 2025 that ended in a Division Series loss. Now they face a crucial offseason after last year’s blockbuster trade for Tucker. With Tucker now a free agent, Chicago must decide whether how to reload.

The Cubs are set to return the rest of their lineup next season, one that ranked in the top 10 in many major categories. The catching situation is crowded but unsettled, featuring Carson Kelly, Reese McGuire, Miguel Amaya, and top prospect Moises Ballesteros.

Kelly had a career year but is fair to project regression is coming based on historical numbers. McGuire and Amaya aren’t everyday options for a contender.

Ballesteros was called up late in the season last year and showed why he was Just Baseball’s 57th ranked prospect back in July. While he offers major offensive upside, he remains a below-average defender. He is a bat-first prospect who even saw a few innings at first base this season.

If the Cubs want lineup flexibility, Realmuto’s addition could provide just that. Not only could he be a veteran mentor to Ballesteros, but he would further stabilize the presence behind the plate.

Both Realmuto and Ballesteros have some experience playing first base. While Michael Busch is the starting first baseman, he has seen time at second and third in the past. If Chicago moves Seiya Suzuki back to an everyday outfield role, they would be able to fit Realmuto, Ballesteros, and Busch in the every day lineup and allow them to manage workloads as needed.

While not a necessity, signing Realmuto would be a strong statement that the Cubs intends to stay competitive in 2026.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals emerged as one of baseball’s early surprises in 2025 playing near .500 through May before fading in the second half. Still, the youth movement led by James Wood, CJ Abrams, the potential of Dylan Crews, and surprise candidate Daylen Lile, has the organization trending upward.

The Nationals have a glaring weakness at the catcher position. Riley Adams hit just .186 with a .560 OPS across 83 games, and Keibert Ruiz posted a .247 average with a .595 OPS in 68 games. Ruiz’s pre-arbitration extension now looks questionable, and it may be time to accept that he may end up an expensive long-term backup.

Until there is a legitimate threat behind Abrams and Wood, they will continue to be pitched carefully as opposing pitchers focus on the weaker parts of their lineup. While Realmuto may not be a Tucker, Schwarber, or Pete Alonso type acquisition, he is a more realistic one for the Nationals. Realmuto would immediately upgrade the lineup while bringing much-needed leadership and defensive stability behind the plate to a young clubhouse.

In an division featuring three established contenders willing to spend money, Washington must be aggressive to accelerate its rebuild. The Juan Soto trade looks to be a massive success on their part, but Washington can’t let that go to waste by failing to reach the postseason. Realmuto has already played for two NL East teams, so why not make it a third.

Pittsburgh Pirates

No, this is not a mistake. I am listing the Pittsburgh Pirates as a possible free agent destination for one of larger suitors on the market.

While I do understand that this is highly unlikely based on their track record in free agency, let me take you through this “what if” scenerio.

The Pirates could desperately use a consistent bat in their lineup who provides elite defense behind the plate and a veteran presence. With a promising rotation that could feature Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, and Mitch Keller, adding a catcher with experience catching some of the game’s very best could be invaluable for their development.

Currently, former first-round picks Henry Davis and Joey Bart have been major busts. While the possibility of improvement is always there, Realmuto would immediately elevate the team’s offense, defense, and clubhouse leadership

The Pirates aren’t just one piece away from contention, and Realmuto may prefer a more competitive situation. Still, if Pittsburgh wants to set the tone for its young core and finally signal a shift toward winning baseball, bringing in a player of Realmuto’s caliber would be a bold first step.