Philadelphia Phillies: 5 unrealistic holiday wishes for fans

1. Phillies re-sign J.T. Realmuto.

Perhaps the top wish for any Phillies fan this holiday season is that the club brings back the “best catcher in baseball,” J.T. Realmuto.

The Phillies have made it known on several occasions this offseason that the organization wants the seven-year veteran to continue donning red pinstripes in 2021 in beyond. During new team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski‘s introductory press conference, he was asked about Realmuto and said that while he does not yet know if there is enough money to re-sign him and fill out the rest of the roster, everyone in the organization loves the catcher and would like to bring him back.

“There is flexibility to make moves,” Dombrowski said. “Is there enough to get something like that done, I’m not sure.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Realmuto, Dombrowski is still getting himself situated with the Phillies and is well-aware that Managing Partner John Middleton remains committed to winning. Bringing back the catcher would go a long way to reaching that goal sooner than later.

Perhaps, as the days go by, the chances of that occurring are surprisingly improving for Dombrowski and the rest of the front office. Teams thought to be in the market for a catcher, such as the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets, have already found an answer in Mike Zunino and James McCann, respectively. The St. Louis Cardinals are another team in the mix for a catcher this offseason, but will likely re-sign their own veteran catcher in Yadier Molina.

The Phillies may very well re-sign Realmuto when it is all said and done. The chances of that occurring this holiday season are slim, however.