Phillies: 5 catcher options if J.T. Realmuto leaves

Trade for Salvador Perez

If the Phillies want to maintain their defense behind home plate while getting consistent offense, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez could be another option.

Perez has been one of the best defensive catchers in the game since 2013, winning five Gold Gloves in his last six seasons. Twice he’s led the league in caught stealing percentage, three times catching more than 42 percent of runners.

He’s also made six consecutive All-Star games and has won the American League Silver Slugger twice in the last three years he’s played.

Offensively, Perez has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball, hitting no less than 21 home runs and 20 doubles in his last four seasons. He’s had at least 23 doubles and 60 RBI in his last six seasons.

With Perez, you’re also getting a guy who’s been in the playoffs with Kansas City and has won a ring, something very few players on the Phillies have accomplished. He was a key piece to the Royals core in the early 2010s and was the World Series MVP in 2015 when Kansas City won it all.

One thing the Phillies would have to consider is that Perez missed all of 2019 with Tommy John surgery. He also missed time over multiple seasons with injuries to his left knee, including an MCL tear.

Kansas City is back in rebuild mode coming off a 59-win season and Perez will finish the 2020 season with a year remaining on his contract worth $14.2 million. It might behoove the Royals to say goodbye to Perez, who will be 31-years-old during the 2021 season.

Given his lack of contract control, injuries, and age the Phillies might be able to get Perez at a slightly cheaper price than another catcher of his caliber.