The Phillies made a move last week that felt inevitable but still leaves a big-picture question unanswered. By re-signing J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million deal, Philadelphia locked in one of the game's most respected backstops for the short term-but they also hit the snooze button on a long-term issue that’s been looming for a while now: who takes over once Realmuto hangs up the gear?
Let’s be clear-Realmuto has been a cornerstone in Philly since arriving in 2019. His leadership behind the plate, ability to manage a pitching staff, and athleticism have made him one of the most complete catchers in the game. But he’s not the same player he was five years ago, and at 35 this March, the wear and tear of the position is starting to show.
The Phillies are still very much in the playoff hunt, but this roster is built around a core that’s aging. Re-signing Realmuto doesn’t reverse that trend-it reinforces it. The question now becomes: how do they manage his workload, and what’s the plan for life after J.T.?
Manager Rob Thomson has a decision to make. Realmuto has been a workhorse, regularly logging 130+ games a season, but that kind of workload may no longer be sustainable-or wise. His offensive numbers have dipped in recent years, and while he remains a defensive asset, the Phillies would be smart to start scaling back his usage to preserve him for the stretch run and postseason.
Enter Rafael Marchán. The 26-year-old is next in line if Realmuto needs time off or suffers an injury.
But is he the guy long-term? That’s still very much an open question.
Marchán’s 2025 season didn’t exactly scream "future starter"-in 42 games, he hit just .210 with a .587 OPS, adding two home runs and 13 RBIs. Those numbers don’t inspire a ton of confidence, and while catchers often develop late, the Phillies can’t afford to bank on a maybe.
The real sting comes from the trade deadline last year, when the Phillies sent top catching prospect Eduardo Tait and young pitcher Mick Abel to the Twins for reliever Jhoan Duran. Tait was just 19 but showing real promise-he hit 11 homers and drove in 51 runs with a .758 OPS across Single-A Clearwater, then held his own in a brief stint at High-A Jersey Shore. He was raw, sure, but he had tools, and more importantly, a timeline that aligned with the end of Realmuto’s new deal in 2028.
Now, that potential bridge to the future is gone. And it’s hard not to wonder if things might’ve played out differently had the Phillies re-signed Carlos Estévez or Jeff Hoffman last offseason-or if the Jordan Romano experiment had worked. Instead, they found themselves needing another late-inning arm midseason, and Tait became the price.
With Tait out of the system, the catching depth chart in the minors is thin. Caleb Ricketts (No. 22 on their MLB Pipeline prospect list) and Alirio Ferrebus (No. 27) are the only names even in the conversation.
Ricketts, by most accounts, tops out as a backup. Ferrebus is a bit more intriguing, but there are already rumblings that he might end up at first base.
If that’s where he sticks, the Phillies may not even get a catcher out of the deal.
So where does that leave Philadelphia? In a bit of a holding pattern.
They’ve secured Realmuto for the near term, but the long-term picture remains blurry. The organization had a chance to get younger behind the plate and passed.
Now, they’re left hoping that someone-Marchán, Ricketts, Ferrebus, or maybe a name not yet on the radar-emerges to take the reins.
Until then, J.T. Realmuto remains the guy.
And while he’s earned that role, the Phillies are walking a tightrope-balancing veteran leadership with the need to plan for the future. One thing’s for sure: that future is coming fast, and the Phillies still don’t have a clear answer for what happens next behind the plate.