The Phillies have been knocking on the door for a few years now - deep playoff runs, a core that’s proven it can win, and a fanbase that’s all in. But the final step?
That elusive World Series title? Still just out of reach.
And that’s why this offseason is all about continuity. Keeping the core intact, keeping the window open.
One major piece of that puzzle: J.T. Realmuto.
Philadelphia already brought back Kyle Schwarber, locking in one of their most consistent postseason bats. But Realmuto’s situation is a little more complicated.
According to league sources, negotiations between the Phillies and their All-Star catcher have hit a standstill. The front office has reportedly put a multi-year deal on the table, but Realmuto believes he can land a bigger payday elsewhere.
That’s left the Phillies in a bit of a bind - hopeful for a reunion, but also preparing for the possibility that it doesn’t happen.
And make no mistake: Realmuto’s return is far from guaranteed.
The Phillies are doing their due diligence on the catching trade market, keeping names like Danny Jansen and Victor Caratini in mind - two of the few available backstops with legitimate starting experience. It’s a sign that while they still want Realmuto back, they’re not going to be caught flat-footed if he walks.
It’s a tricky situation. Realmuto has built a reputation as one of the game’s premier two-way catchers over his 12-year career.
He’s a three-time All-Star, a clubhouse leader, and when he’s right, he’s a game-changer. But 2025 wasn’t his best year.
In fact, it was his worst offensive season since his rookie campaign back in 2015. He finished with a .257/.315/.384 slash line, just 10 home runs, and a 91 OPS+ - numbers that don’t reflect the kind of impact bat he’s been in the past.
Even defensively - long considered his calling card - there was some slippage. He’s still better than most behind the plate, but the elite edge he once had wasn’t quite as sharp this past season.
Still, for a team built to win now, Realmuto’s experience and leadership are hard to replace. That’s why the expectation remains that a reunion makes sense. But money talks, and if another team offers more years or dollars, the Phillies will have to pivot.
They’ve already been active on other fronts. One of the more under-the-radar moves this offseason came earlier this week, when Philadelphia signed right-hander Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal. Keller is coming off a breakout season with the Cubs, and the Phillies believe he’s just scratching the surface.
Dave Dombrowski, the team’s head of baseball operations, spoke about the signing and made it clear the organization views Keller as a high-leverage weapon.
“He took another step forward last year,” Dombrowski said. “He was dominant with his stuff.
He picked up about 3 miles per hour on his velocity. His other pitches are good, too - we really like them.
Our scouts, our analysts, our pitching coaches - everyone who’s looked at him believes this is who he is now. He’s a legit backend type guy.”
Keller adds another layer to what was already one of the most reliable bullpens in baseball last season - a major shift from previous years when the 'pen was often the weak link. The Phillies are clearly trying to build a staff that can shorten games in October.
But even as they add, they’re not afraid to subtract. On Friday, the Phillies traded veteran lefty Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan.
Strahm had been a steady presence out of the bullpen over the last three seasons, throwing at least 60 innings each year and posting a combined 6.6 bWAR during his time in Philly. He was even an All-Star in 2024. This past season, he logged 62.1 innings with a 2.74 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per nine - the kind of numbers that typically keep a reliever in town.
But according to team sources, the move wasn’t strictly about performance. Strahm had reportedly clashed with coaches and team officials on a number of issues. While teammates saw him as a competitor - a guy who always wanted the ball - the front office ultimately decided that three trusted lefty relievers was a luxury they could afford to trim.
So now, the Phillies move forward with a bullpen that’s deep, a rotation that’s solid, and a lineup that still has plenty of firepower. But the Realmuto situation looms large. He’s been a cornerstone of this era of Phillies baseball, and whether or not he returns could say a lot about how the team plans to approach this make-or-break window.
The Phillies are built to contend. But to win it all, every piece matters - especially behind the plate.