Free agent J.T. Realmuto is one of the players that Philadelphia Phillies fans have associated with the current core since he was acquired from the Miami Marlins in 2019. He showed how much he wanted to remain with the Phillies when he signed a five-year contract ahead of the 2021 season, when he was last a free agent.
According to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, rival executives believe the catcher may have as many or more suitors as Kyle Schwarber (subscription required).
The Phillies and Realmuto both hope a contract agreement can be worked out to keep him in Philadelphia for the next few years. However, there's no guarantee that he'll return. What if he signs with another National League club and forces the Phillies to make a bold pivot behind the plate?
Which division rivals and NL playoff contenders could compete with the Phillies and could be considered fits for the backstop, according to Baseball's Taylor Greenhut? He projects Realmuto's next contract to be for one to two years with an AAV between $10 and 16 million.
3 J.T. Realmuto free agent destinations that would derail Phillies' offseason
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs may not re-sign top free agent Kyle Tucker this offseason. They could use an upgrade at catcher, per Greenhut. Reese McGuire and Miguel Amaya project more as backups for a playoff contender, and Carson Kelly may regress after having one of his best seasons in 2025.
Realmuto would be a good mentor for Cubs prospect catcher Moisés Ballesteros. The 22-year-old needs to improve defensively, and there is arguably no better active backstop than Realmuto, who Ballesteros could learn from to improve that part of his game.
Greenhut notes that if Chicago moves Seiya Suzuki back to the outfield full-time, they would be able to fit infielder Michael Busch, Ballesteros, and Realmuto into the lineup and allow manager Craig Counsell to manage their playing time. While the Cubs have plenty of bodies at catcher, adding Realmuto strengthens their position group and provides them with an experienced, everyday player to utilize at the spot.
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an interesting option, considering they aren't a playoff contender. They have a young team and could improve their lineup with a veteran such as Realmuto to take pressure off the younger core players like C.J. Abrams, James Wood, Dylan Crews, and Daylen Lile, who are part of the future.
Adding Realmuto not only provides an experienced presence for a young clubhouse but also improves the Nationals' catcher position. Neither Keibert Ruiz nor Riley Adams looks like a long-term solution at backstop. While Philadelphia fans would not like Realmuto signing with another club in the NL East, the move would upgrade Washington's roster.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are another playoff contender in the NL. However, they need to compete with the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the improved San Francisco Giants in the NL West. Realmuto would provide the Padres with an upgrade at catcher over their options this year: Freddy Fermín and Elias Díaz.
However, Greenhut writes that adding Realmuto would increase the team's overall age. Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts are 33, Nick Pivetta will be 33 in February, and Jake Cronenworth turns 32 in January. Does San Diego want to commit to a short-term deal with Realmuto, who will be 35 by Opening Day?
If Realmuto signs with the Padres, he immediately upgrades their catching position. They are a potential club the Phillies will need to compete with for a playoff spot next year and Phillies fans would hate seeing Realmuto in a Padres uniform.