Now that we're a week into 2026, it feels like spring training is right around the corner, with pitchers and catchers set to report in about five weeks. Philadelphia Phillies pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Clearwater sometime during the second week of February, just like every other year. But will J.T. Realmuto be among them or can fans expect a new face, like Ryan Jeffers, to appear?
One thing that may not be the same as every other year is the personnel who will show up in Florida. With Realmuto still unsigned and floating in free agency, there are ever-increasing doubts about whether he will return to Philadelphia for an eighth season.
The Phillies are investigating possible backup plans behind the plate, including Jeffers, who has spent his entire career with the Minnesota Twins.
Phillies reportedly targeting Twins' Ryan Jeffers in case J.T. Realmuto doesn't return
With the unproven Rafael Marchán as their top in-house option, the Phillies have been exploring backup plans, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, as any responsible front office would be. One of those options reportedly includes trading for Jeffers (subscription required), per Gelb's sources.
"The Phillies have explored contingencies because pitchers and catchers report to Florida in five weeks. It would be ideal to have a starting catcher report," Gelb notes. "The Phillies have talked trades for catchers, young and old; Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers is one potential target, league sources told The Athletic."
What could the Phillies do if they don’t re-sign J.T. Realmuto? League sources told @TheAthleticMLB that Ryan Jeffers is a potential target. pic.twitter.com/SqKtDpCPh8
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) January 6, 2026
Jeffers was the Twins' second-round pick in 2018, ranked as the Twins' MLB Pipeline No. 16 prospect in 2019, and debuted in 2020. He has taken over the majority of Minnesota's catching duties over the last two seasons, playing 122 games in 2024 and 119 in 2025.
He has shown some pop in his bat in previous years, although in 2025 he slashed .266/.356/.397 with just nine home runs and 47 RBIs. In 2024, he had a lower batting average at .226 but slugged .432 with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs.
One area Jeffers has improved with more playing time has been cutting down on strikeouts. After posting a 30.5 percent strikeout rate from 2020 through 2023, he drastically reduced that over the past two seasons, striking out just 19.9 percent of the time in 929 plate appearances.
Defensively, Jeffers won't provide the same control over the running game as Realmuto, with a 33rd percentile 1.98-second pop time in 2025. Realmuto led the majors with a 1.86-second pop time.
They had the same blocks above average, with neither being very good in the 13th percentile. Jeffers did edge out Realmuto in framing, with -1 catcher framing runs (44th percentile) compared to Realmuto's -8 (seventh percentile).
As far as Realmuto replacements, Jeffers would be a nice, cheap get for the Phillies. However, it would be a temporary solution as the arbitration-eligible 28-year-old will become a free agent after the 2026 season.
If saving the money they would have paid Realmuto (expected to be in the $15 million per season range) means that the Phillies can go out and add one of the remaining top infield free agent bats, like Bo Bichette, then it would be difficult to imagine fans finding fault with the decision.