DONE DEAL: Phillies sign another $50 million to pair him alongside Wheeler for the next three seasons.

The Philadelphia Phillies need stability in their catcher depth chart, and securing that could begin with offering an extension to their starting catcher, J.T. Realmuto.

Phillies could ink J.T. Realmuto to 3-year extension

Matt Davis of This Ball’s Outta Here suggested the Phillies secure J.T. Realmuto with a three-year extension, maintaining the productive partnership he shares with ace Zack Wheeler (via The Sporting News’ Peter Chawaga).

“With the Phillies’ current catcher situation, what might an extension look like?” Davis pondered. “Given his connection with Wheeler, a three-year, $50 million deal could make sense to align him with Wheeler for the next few seasons. The downside is that Realmuto, now in his mid-30s, is coming off one of the worst offensive years of his career and underwent knee surgery last June. While his prime may be behind him, he’s not finished yet, though the clock is ticking.”

Phillies: Realmuto could still deliver at a high level

Realmuto’s 2024 performance at the plate remained solid, featuring a .266/.322/.429 slash line, 50 runs, 14 home runs, and 47 RBIs. Defensively, the veteran shined with a .995 fielding percentage. In 2023, he led MLB in putouts (1,190) for the second time in his career and topped all National League catchers with a .998 fielding percentage. There’s reason to believe Realmuto can continue to perform at a high level in 2025 and beyond, making the proposed extension a logical move.

Phillies’ future at catcher: Realmuto to Eduardo Tait

Beyond Realmuto, the Phillies lack depth at catcher. Backup Garrett Stubbs offers impressive athleticism, with a pop time of 1.88 seconds ranking in the 92nd percentile. However, his .207 batting average highlights a need for improvement offensively.

The team’s future at the position lies with Eduardo Tait, their No. 4 overall prospect, who is projected to debut in 2028. A three-year extension for Realmuto would seamlessly bridge the gap, providing the Phillies with stability behind the plate until Tait is ready to step into the starting role.