Phillies should let J.T. Realmuto walk at desired salary

According to reports, J.T. Realmuto may be looking for a contract in the $200 million range. At that price, the Phillies should let him walk away.

It is without question that J.T. Realmuto is considered the prize player in free agency. He has been one of the top catchers in the game over the past five seasons, an excellent hitter who has also been a stellar defensive backstop. While the Phillies would love to extend him, they seem resigned to the fact that he will enter free agency in just a few short weeks.

Once Realmuto enters the market, the Phillies should let him walk. According to reports, he could be looking for a record setting contract for a catcher, one that could be worth upwards of $200 million.

In theory, that would be a reasonable contract. Realmuto has combined for a .282/.336/.466 batting line with 85 homers and 134 doubles over the past five seasons. He has been a two time All Star, won the 2019 Gold Glove award, and is a two time Silver Slugger.

Realmuto has been stellar defensively as well. He has led the National League in runs saved as a catcher of the past two years, and in 2019, led the league with an impressive 47% caught stealing rate. He is an elite pitch framer with one of the best pop times of any catcher in the game. At 30 years old, and still in his hypothetical prime, there is no reason to expect any differently.

But it comes down to the rest of the Phillies roster. They could, in theory, break the bank to retain the best catcher in the game. However, this is a roster with multiple holes. Didi Gregorius is also a free agent, and would leave a gaping hole at short. The bullpen essentially needs to be completely rebuilt. And the Phillies could use at least one more starting pitcher, if not two.

That is what the Phillies are up against. Ownership has already made noise that they may not be willing to spend this offseason based on the uncertainty on whether or not fans will be allowed at the ballpark to start 2021. Even if that stance changes, and ownership does invest the funds needed to rebuild the roster, Realmuto might not fit into their budget.

The Phillies have a lot of holes on their roster. J.T. Realmuto may be the best catcher in the game, but based on how many problems they have, it may be best to let him walk away.