That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies 2020 Opening Day roster early predictions

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Phillies general manager Matt Klentak of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on September 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Phillies general manager Matt Klentak of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on September 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 27: Andrew Knapp #15 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on September 27, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 5-4 in fifteenth inning. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 27: Andrew Knapp #15 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on September 27, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 5-4 in fifteenth inning. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Catcher

The Phillies know what they have in J.T. Realmuto, he’ll be the least of their worries in 2020. The team’s lone All-Star earned a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and finished 14th in the National League MVP race. It’s the first time a Phillies catcher has won both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in the same season.

Realmuto also set the Phillies single-season record for doubles by a catcher (36) and caught 43 runners stealing, joining Bob Boone (54), Clay Dalrymple (45, 50), Andy Seminick (43), and Darren Daulton (49) as the only modern-era Phillies to throw out 40 runners in a season.

The only thing Philadelphia has to worry about with Realmuto is his contract, which ends after this season. Realmuto has sounded optimistic that a deal will get done, but when?

Hopefully the Phillies get a deal done with Realmuto, cause their options behind him aren’t great.

The status of Andrew Knapp is a point of contention for Phillies fans. A career .223 batting average and defense that’ average at best doesn’t excite the fanbase when Realmuto needs to take a Sunday day game off.

For some reason, former manager Gabe Kapler and the front office loved throwing Knapp out there, even as a pinch-hitter. Knapp certainly hasn’t lived up to being the 53rd overall pick of the 2013 Draft when he was taken two rounds ahead of Cody Bellinger.

There are a ton of backup level catchers in the free agent market this offseason, including Russell Martin, Martin Maldonado, Yan Gomes, Jason Castro, and Francisco Cervelli.

Philadelphia also has prospect Deivy Grullon, who appeared in four games late last season, but he’s expected to be in Lehigh Valley, barring a trade.

Because of a new rule allowing a 26th man on the major league roster the Phillies could hypothetically carry three catchers. I’d expect them to at the very least explore the catcher market and have a spring training competition for the backup or potentially third catcher job.

Prediction: J.T. Realmuto, Martin Maldonado

Home/Phillies News