ESPN’s Buster Olney: Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto is Best Catcher in Baseball
JT. Realmuto and the Phillies have yet to agree to a new deal.
Realmuto said last Thursday that contract extension talks with the Phillies haven't gone anywhere since the shutdown. Realmuto will make $10 million this season and is currently set to hit the free agent market next winter.
The Phillies may have to break the bank to keep their All-Star catcher. After a solid season last year, ESPN’s Buster Olney ranked the 29-year-old as the best catcher in the MLB, saying there is Realmuto and then all the rest.
What separated Realmuto from the rest of the field? Olney highlighted Realmuto’s work behind the plate last season
Realmuto led all catchers in WAR last season, is among the leaders in framing metrics and threw out more runners than anybody else by a wide margin (he cut down 43 of 92 would-be stealers).
While Realmuto is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, he is also one of the best with the bat. Last year, Realmuto hit .275 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI in 145 games.
Realmuto is currently set to hit the free agent market next winter. It has been reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman that J.T. Realmuto's agent wants his client to top Buster Posey's eight-year, $159 million contract extension.
If the two sides cant get a deal done and Realmuto matches or surpasses his 2019 season, he just might get that type of deal, either in Phllly, or some place else.