One possible replacement for J.T. Realmuto is now off the table. On Saturday, the Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals agreed to a trade that sent catching prospect Harry Ford to Washington in exchange for left-handed reliever Jose Ferrer. The Phillies' backstop search, if Realmuto doesn't return, now gets a little tougher.
Ford is a 22-year-old catching prospect who will look to have his first full dose of regular season action in 2026. He's currently ranked as MLB's No. 3 best catching prospect and the 42nd best prospect overall.
For the Phillies, Ford would have served as a younger and cheaper option instead of re-signing Realmuto. Across five seasons in the minors, Ford hit .264 with an .834 OPS. He's expected to be a top catcher in the sport, which made him valuable to other clubs. He also became that much more movable with the Mariners having Cal Raleigh under contract at least through 2030.
Phillies will have to look elsewhere for catching help if J.T. Realmuto leaves
Realmuto has gotten a lot of interest from across the league, including smaller markets like the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies were the oldest club in baseball in 2025, so a Ford deal would have checked multiple boxes for the new era of Phillies baseball.
There are still other options to explore, with trades seemingly being the best course of action. The Phillies ultimately bringing their catcher back is still the most likely outcome, but will still cost them. According to Spotrac, Realmuto's market value comes in just under $13 million per season, although the lack of catching depth on the free-agent market could easily drive that price up.
Realmuto finished the 2025 season hitting .257 with a .700 OPS and a 2.5 bWAR. It was his worst offensive season since becoming a member of the Phillies. But he still maintains elite defense behind the dish. According to Statcast, among 84 active MLB catchers in 2025, Realmuto led with a 1.86 pop time to second base.
Realmuto's also a leader in the clubhouse, handling an elite pitching staff feared across the league. The Phillies know what they'll get if they bring Realmuto back, but finding a backup plan that doesn't involve Ford is best for the future of the Phillies.