The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings have concluded, and the Philadelphia Phillies' front office is leaving Orlando with one of their franchise cornerstone free agents locked up. Of course, the team made the first big splash of the meetings with their five-year, $150 million re-signing of Kyle Schwarber. Next up on their offseason to-do list is to do the same with J.T. Realmuto.
Both sides have obvious interest in a reunion, and with the Phillies already offering a contract to Realmuto, all signs point to the 12-year MLB veteran returning to Philadelphia for 2026 and beyond. Fans may have to wait until the new year until a contract is finalized, however, if Realmuto's previous free agency experience is any indication.
J.T. Realmuto's Phillies reunion might have to wait until early 2026
It wasn't all too long ago when the Phillies were in this same situation with their franchise catcher. Realmuto's first two seasons in Philadelphia cemented him as the league's best catcher at the time, just as he entered free agency ahead of the 2021 season. Fans and teammates alike campaigned for Realmuto's return, which became a reality with a five-year, $115.5 million deal.
All of a sudden, those five years have come and gone with Realmuto experiencing the best team success of his career. He reached the postseason for the first time in 2022, with his .276/.342/.478 season with 22 homers and 84 RBIs placing him seventh in NL MVP voting. The Phillies returned to the playoffs each of the next three years after their 2022 World Series loss, with Realmuto's .353 average and 1.118 OPS making him easily the team's most productive hitter in the 2025 NLDS.
That contract was signed in late January, which suggests that Realmuto could once again make his decision after the calendar flips into the new year. It's believed that Realmuto is looking for a multi-year deal around the $15-16 million AAV range, so he could sit on the Phillies' likely two-year, roughly $30 million offer as he weighs similar offers from other interested clubs, like the Boston Red Sox.
Two years seems like the perfect amount for Realmuto and the Phillies, as he's entering his mid-30s and is already experiencing an expected decline in production given how often he catches. Realmuto caught in 134 games in 2025 and saw his numbers dip to a .257 average and .700 OPS that we haven't seen since his first full season with Miami in 2015.
It wouldn't be a shock if those stats continue to deteriorate, but the Phillies know how important Realmuto is behind the plate. His game management is widely praised by the team's fierce pitching staff, and the catcher market is particularly weak this winter. If Realmuto were to leave, the team would have to get creative in replacing him.
Intriguing prospect Harry Ford was dealt to the division rival Washington Nationals last week, further increasing Philadelphia's urgency to reach an agreement with their fan-favorite catcher. All that matters is that an agreement gets reached, whether it comes next week or next month.