*Photo from ABC 6*
All along, bringing back superstar and leader JT Realmuto was the top priority for the Philadelphia Phillies. It took a little longer than expected, but it finally got done. The Phillies and Realmuto agreed to a 5 year, $115 million deal, according to MLB.com's Craig Mish. The contract sets a record for Average Annual Value(AAV) for a catcher, surpassing Joe Mauer's $23 million per season contract with the Twins. The deal has been confirmed by the Phillies.
Realmuto had a fantastic season in 2020, with a .266 average and a .840 OPS, hitting 11 homers and 32 RBI in 47 games played for the Phillies in the 60 game campaign. In his 7 seasons, Realmuto is a .278 hitter with a .783 OPS, hitting 95 homers and 358 RBI in 732 games played in his career.
Realmuto began his promising career with the Marlins in 2014, where he quickly became one of the game's best catchers with the glove, arm, and bat. When the Marlins tore everything down in a rebuild, Realmuto was sent to the Phillies prior to the 2019 season in exchange for a package including Jorge Alfaro and Sixto Sanchez. Realmuto continued to be the best catcher in baseball in his two seasons with the Phillies, earning his payday.
However, negotiations about a contract extension in 2020 didn't start smoothly, as Realmuto was looking for around $200 million in money, while the Phillies only wanted to pay half of that. The two sides continued to be at an impasse throughout the season, and pessimism was growing in the organization about their chances of extending him. They didn't, and thus he hit the free agent market.
Things took a turn for the better in December, when Dave Dombrowski was hired by the Phillies, and the second best catcher in the free agent market, James McCann, signed with the Mets, making it Realmuto or bust for the Phillies. Dombrowski has also never shied away from giving out big contracts, which was another good sign for the Phillies fans and players, who expressed repeatedly their desires of wanting Realmuto back.
Realmuto rejoins a Phillies roster that is trying for another playoff push in 2021, after making some bullpen upgrades this offseason. The Phillies are also pursuing a reunion with SS Didi Gregorius, who is reportedly seeking a two year deal this offseason.
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