J.T. Realmuto has been linked to the Washington Nationals for years. Is it worth making this a reality?
Free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto is sure to command a massive contract this offseason— and for good reason. At 29-years-old, Realmuto has established himself as one of, if not, the best catcher(s) in the MLB. The Washington Nationals have been linked to Realmuto ever since he was initially brought up in trade rumors when the Marlins changed ownership. Once again, the Nats have appeared on shortlists for favorites to land Realmuto this winter. However, the price of signing him may be higher than just what his contract is worth.
Let’s take a look at the greatest of potential pros and cons for Realmuto joining DC in 2021.
A premium player at a premium position
In today’s game, an athletic catcher with a plus bat is a lot like a unicorn. Realmuto finished 2020 with an .840 OPS, surpassing his previous highs of .825 and .820 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In addition, Realmuto is a threat on the base paths and a defensive beast, leading the Majors with a 46.74% caught-stealing percentage in the last full season of baseball (2019).
Signing Realmuto would kill two large birds with one stone for the Nats. Even after trading for first baseman Josh Bell, the Nationals find themselves looking for heart of the order bats to flesh out their lineup.
They’ve also been scraping by on Catchers in the previous few years. Kurt Suzuki has aged like a fine wine, but he continues to test the limits of his body and is far from a long-term option. Yan Gomes has stepped in as well, but his consistency has been in question, and is also no young-gun anymore.
The fact of the matter is, the market for a catcher, especially one of Realmuto’s caliber, is razor thin. That is why Realmuto is sure to command a large contract this winter despite a shrinking market thanks to 2020’s covid-ball.
That 22-year-old in Left Field
One of the main reasons Nats fans clamor for a Realmuto signing is the need for a bat to protect Juan Soto. The generational talent has only improved with each of his few seasons in the majors, and the need for a premier bat around him became glaring in 2020. However, could signing Realmuto actually hurt the Nats when it comes to Soto?
In 2025, Soto will become a free-agent (barring any early extensions, which are rare in DC). Analysts, fans, and front-office members already predict a meteoric contract staring the young superstar in the face when that time comes. Some even feel he may command a higher-priced deal than Mike Trout’s $426.5 million mega-deal. Given Soto’s talent and big personality, that may very well be the case.
The bottom line
Should the Nats shell out enough to bring Realmuto to Washington, it may put a dent in their hopes to be able to afford Soto. Bringing in Realmuto on a five year deal would bring about another headache of free-agency in the same vein of 2019’s Strasburg-Rendon debacle.
Realmuto will not come cheap. Soto will not either. With arbitration looming and other young core members to pay attention to (Trea Turner and Victor Robles top the list), fans may be scratching their heads at the possibility that all will wear Nats jerseys long-term.
It’s probably safe to say that most Washington Nationals fans would not cheer for a Realmuto signing if it meant Soto walks out the door in 2025; however, the optimistic ones are clinging to the hope that the Nats can walk the tightrope and secure both when their respective times come. One thing is clear: to pull it all off, the Lerner’s will need to reach into their deep pockets to make it a reality.