The Philadelphia Phillies have been knocking on the door for the past few seasons, consistently making postseason runs but falling just short of the ultimate prize. With their championship window still wide open, the front office is focused on keeping the core intact-and that starts behind the plate.
They’ve already checked one box by bringing back slugger Kyle Schwarber, but the next big domino is J.T. Realmuto.
The veteran catcher has been a cornerstone for the Phillies since arriving in 2019, both as a leader and one of the most complete backstops in the game. But right now, there’s a standoff.
According to league sources, negotiations between Realmuto and the Phillies have hit a wall. The team has reportedly put a multi-year offer on the table, but Realmuto is testing the market, believing he could land a bigger deal elsewhere. That’s left the Phillies in a holding pattern-still hoping for a reunion, but actively exploring fallback options in case it doesn’t happen.
And make no mistake, that fallback plan is real. With Realmuto unsigned, Philadelphia is evaluating the trade market for catchers.
Names like Danny Jansen and Victor Caratini-both proven MLB starters-are on the radar. It’s not the preferred route, but the Phillies aren’t going to be caught flat-footed if Realmuto walks.
From a performance standpoint, Realmuto’s résumé speaks for itself. He’s been a three-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and one of the most athletic catchers in the league.
But 2025 was a down year by his standards. He posted a .257/.315/.384 slash line, hit just 10 home runs, and finished with a 91 OPS+-his lowest offensive output since his rookie season in 2015.
Even defensively, where he’s long been elite, there was some noticeable slippage.
Still, Realmuto’s track record and leadership make him a valuable piece. The Phillies know that. But they also know they can’t afford to wait forever, especially with other roster moves already in motion.
One of those moves came earlier this week, when the Phillies bolstered their bullpen by signing right-hander Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal. Keller is coming off a breakout season with the Cubs, and Philadelphia sees him as a potential high-leverage weapon. He’s added velocity, sharpened his secondary stuff, and turned heads across the league with his 2025 performance.
“He took another step forward last year,” said Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations. “He was dominant with his stuff.
He picked up about three miles per hour on his fastball. His other pitches are good, too-we really like them.
All of our scouting, our analytics, our pitching people-they all feel like this is who he is now. He’s a legit back-end type guy.”
That’s high praise from a front office that doesn’t hand out compliments-or contracts-lightly. Keller may not have a long MLB track record, but the Phillies believe he’s just scratching the surface.
While the bullpen gained a new piece, it also lost a familiar one. On Friday, the Phillies traded lefty reliever Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm had been a steady presence in the Philadelphia bullpen for three seasons, logging at least 60 innings each year and earning an All-Star nod in 2024.
His 2025 season was another solid one: 62.1 innings, a 2.74 ERA, and 10.1 strikeouts per nine. That kind of production doesn’t usually get dealt-unless there’s more to the story.
According to team sources, the decision to move Strahm wasn’t purely performance-based. While the Phillies had depth from the left side, with three trusted southpaws in the pen, internal friction reportedly played a role.
Strahm, known for being outspoken, had clashed with coaches and team officials on several issues. Despite that, teammates respected his willingness to take the ball and compete.
In the end, it was a calculated move: the Phillies cleared room for their evolving bullpen while bringing in a young arm in Bowlan, who could provide depth or develop into more down the line.
So where does that leave the Phillies? Still in the thick of things.
They’ve made smart additions, navigated a tricky trade, and are keeping their options open with Realmuto. The offseason isn’t over, and neither is their pursuit of a championship.
But as the calendar inches closer to spring, the clock is ticking on some major decisions-especially behind the plate.