Oct 6, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) walks to the dugout prior to game two of the NLDS round against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
PHILADELPHIA — Listening to Dave Dombrowski and Rob Thomson deliver their year-end addresses Thursday, you didn't get the sense that the organization is hoping to move on from catcher J.T. Realmuto. Whether they will be able to retain the three-time Silver Slugger Award winner is less clear.
Realmuto isn't the same player he was five years ago when he hit free agency at the height of his powers, ultimately returning to the Phillies on a five-year/$115.5 million contract.
But a reporter opined in his question to Thomson that he "seems to be a big fan of his," referring to Realmuto. Thomson replied, "I am."
Thomson then talked about the intangible value that Realmuto has to the Phillies that doesn't show up in the box score.
"And I can't put a dollar sign on it, it's just hard to do it. But this guys is ... and I've had a lot of great catchers ... I've been around [Jorge] Posada, Pudge Rodriguez for a short period of times, it goes on and on and on ... this guy to me is the most prepared guy I've ever been around as a catcher," Thomson said.
"He will spend hours watching video, making up his own gameplan and then matching it up with Caleb [Cotham] and talking with the pitchers. And he's got a great feel for in-game adjustments ... when to go to the mound ... when to change the pitch ... when to change location. I can't put a number on it, but it's significant. I mean, he's just that good."
Bryce Harper on J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber’s futures: “Obviously we love those two guys, and want them back.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/UQrU9bXOk4
Early in Dombrowski's press conference as part of a larger answer about how the roster could change, he said "I hope we bring J.T. back, but I don't know."
Later on, he was asked about whether the Phillies would be able to sustain the level of pitching success they've had in recent years — which coaches and arms regularly credit Realmuto for his large role in — if the three-time All-Star wasn't re-signed.
"J.T.'s a really good player. He's had a great career up to this point, and he continues to be a good player," Dombrowski said. "One of his many strengths is handling a pitching staff. He does a great job and it works. And so, if you don't have him, you have to try to replace that. There are very few guys that are quite as good as he is in that regard, but you'd have to do your best to try to replace that if he's not back with us.
"But I don't think your pitchers have to take a big step back, but they have to make adjustments because right now, you don't see many people shake J.T. off. He does his work and they feel very comfortable throwing to him. And they should, he's done a phenomenal job. Those are things [if we lose him] ... we wanna bring him back ... then you have to work in trying to compliment your organization with having someone have as many of the qualities that he brings to the table [as possible] on a daily basis."
While Dombrowski's comments about whether or not Harper is still elite got attention, his answer here saying that Realmuto "continues to be a good player" is arguably more relevant. It wasn't a dis of Realmuto, as he says earlier in the answer that Realmuto is "a really good player." But whether he intended to or not, it will be important in evaluating the future of Realmuto to make the distinction between the player he was and what he now is.
When Realmuto hit the open market after the 2020 season, he was coming off of a two-year stretch where he had posted an .825 OPS and was 11th among all players in the sport in WAR, per FanGraphs. Between 2024 and 2025, Realmuto posted a .722 OPS. His 4.0 WAR over that period ranked 118th among position players.
Realmuto still has intangible value as noted above, and remains excellent at throwing out would-be basestealers. But after making $23.875 million in each of the past four seasons, it make take some time for him to accept he won't make that same money annually at this stage of his career. He'll probably also want more years than the Phillies are hoping to give him entering his age-35 season.
The question then becomes what is the max number of years and dollars the Phillies are willing to offer Realmuto. What if there's a team prepared to guarantee three or four seasons? Would the Phillies match? It will be a tough decision, especially without many capable alternative options at catcher for a team that fancies itself a World Series contender.
J.T. Realmuto declined to discuss his future as he heads towards free agency.
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/9tPNZB1T8l
Realmuto declined to address his future when the Phillies were eliminated from the postseason by the Los Angeles Dodgers last Thursday. Soon, though, the two sides will have to see if they can reach an agreement to extend their relationship beyond the seven fruitful seasons they've had together.
The reality entering the offseason is this: Five years ago, the Phillies needed Realmuto. Now, they'd really like to have him back, but they may have to extend some restraint given his age.
