8) Worst contracts in the NL East: J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies
After establishing himself as the best catcher in baseball, J.T. Realmuto inked a five-year deal worth $115.5 million to remain in Philadelphia following the 2020 season. Realmuto made $20 million in the first year of the deal, and is owed $23.5 million annually for the duration of the contract which runs through the 2025 campaign.
Realmuto was well worth the hefty price tag in the first two years of the deal, particularly the second year, which saw him finish seventh in the NL MVP balloting. While he's been good this season, he hasn't been quite as good as Phillies fans have come to expect.
The Phillies backstop is slashing .253/.314/.462 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI. A .776 OPS isn't awful, especially for a catcher, but it'd be Realmuto's lowest mark since 2016.
In addition to his slightly underwhelming bat, Realmuto has taken a bit of a step back in the field as well. He ranks in the 34th percentile in pitch framing according to baseball savant after ranking in the 61st percentile in 2022. From above-average to below-average. Furthermore, he has been worth -4 DRS after picking up 11 DRS last season.
Realmuto is still a top-five catcher in the game, but has declined across the board this season. He's 32-years-old and still has two more expensive years to go. The contract isn't an albatross, but doesn't look great, either.