Catcher JT Realmuto and the Philadelphia Phillies agree on a five-year, $ 115.5 million contract, ESPN sources told Jeff Passan.
Realmuto, 29, continues to be one of the best catchers in all categories, hitting .266 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs with the Phillies during the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic. He did not accept a $ 18.9 million one-year qualification offer, instead looking for a longer-term deal in the free agent market.
As of 2018, Realmuto leads all MLB catches in WAR (10.1), RBI (189) and stolen bases (16) and is second in slugging percentage (.489) and OPS (.825). The 57 home runs of that period are ranked third in the MLB rankings.
Defensively, he has 11 races saved in the last two seasons, ranking fourth among catches that have played more than 1,000 innings.
Realmuto managed .275 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs, while winning its second consecutive All-Star selection in 2019, leading the National League with 43 runners expelled in its first season in Philadelphia. It was acquired in February 2019 through an agreement that sent catcher Jorge Alfaro, two pitching potentials and international signing bonus money to rebuild the Miami Marlins.
Realmuto lost his refereeing case with the Phillies before last season and received an increase from $ 6.05 million to $ 10 million; he had asked for $ 12.4 million. He said he had no resentment over the losses.
“I love this organization,” he said. “They’ve been wonderful to me and my family since I was born. From the top down, they’re good people and they care about baseball. That’s important to me.”
Realmuto, a .278 career player, was the first All-Star in his fourth season in 2018, when he hit .277 and set career highs with 21 homers, 74 RBI- and an OPS of .825
The news of the Realmuto deal was first reported by MLB reporter Craig Mish.