Phillies Mailbag: Realmuto’s Future, Rincones, 2025’s Rebound

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  We take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in Tuesday afternoons to hear your questions answered on the air.

Would you sign J.T. Realmuto to an extension?
~Skip

This is a really difficult question to answer.  J.T. Realmuto remains one of the more productive catchers in the game when healthy.  But now the oldest player on the Phillies roster, one must wonder how long he can be at it.

While we learned as camp broke that the Phillies might look to increase Realmuto's positional flexibility.  That could be the key here.

I would be in favor of re-signing Realmuto provided there was another position we knew that he could play.   But for that to happen that means there much be another catching option available to play more and more, and that Realmuto could move to designated hitter or first base.

I don't love the outfield idea, personally.  The Phillies may be looking to play Kyle Schwarber in left field more this season; he will get some more work out in left field this Spring.

But I think Schwarber is part of this discussion too.  Could the Phillies handle Realmuto and Schwarber on the same roster if Realmuto is catching less and less?

Meanwhile, if you were looking at what other catchers will be available as free agents next offseason, the pickings are slim, if the objective is to find a starter.

That could be why the Phillies sign Realmuto, depending on the length of an extension.  If it is one or two years, that could buy them some time to find the long-term solution.  Eduardo Tate is a real prospect in the Phillies system, but he is just 18 years old at this time and would need some time.

The Phillies added Paul McIntosh in the Jesus Luzardo trade to give them some more options.    But at age 27, McIntosh is not much of a prospect.

And finally, Rafael Marchan looks promising.  But has yet to stay healthy.  How he does this season could have a lot to do with how the Phillies proceed going forward.

Is Gabriel Rincones much of a prospect?
~ Wayne

Phillies fans were introduced to outfielder Gabriel Rincones on Sunday's televised Spring Training home opener with a home run to left field.  That was a nice introduction to the Phillies prospect, who hit 11 home runs in 59 games last season at Double-A Reading.

His .800 OPS was notable in a season cut short by injury.

Rincones was a 2022 third round draft pick (93rd overall) who did not play until 2023 due to a shoulder issue.  He is seen as someone who has the potential for a lot of power, provided that the rest of his tools come together.

He projects, according to some accounts as a platoon player, though he could do more.  Some also feel that his defensive ability might mean that he plays first base or designated hitter.

Rincones finished the 2024 MLB Pipeline rankings as the number 10 prospect in the system.  They saw him as a potential 2025 entry into MLB, though the injuries slowed him down some.

I can see Rincones getting started at Double-A Reading this season, with a potential promotion to Triple-A quickly if all goes well.  Turning 24 years old on Monday, and with college experience, he could be a Phillies option this season if all works out and there is a need.

I would not call him a top prospect, but I think he is worth watching this season.

Who is your top "bounce back" candidate this year on the Phillies?
~Jane

My pick for 2025 would be Jose Alvarado.  Alvarado had a down season for him, going 2-5 with a 4.09 earned run average in 66 games.  I think after he had a chance to hit the reset button, he will be better in 2025.

A lot of high-velocity relievers have up and down seasons.  We saw Alvarado be absolutely brilliant in 2022, en route to a Phillies World Series appearance.

Alvarado's sinker has become his signature pitch.   His velocity has largely remained the same, which makes me think that it was a matter of mechanics.   The sinker led to many swings and misses from the opposition.

In 2024 his WHIP was about the same as it was in 2022.  But he did have 15 fewer strikeouts.   When you consider that would mean a strikeout more every four appearances, I think that would translate to scoring opportunities that did not take place.

Looking at 2024, Alvarado began to struggle from later in July into August.  He had an 8.39 ERA and a .309 OBA.  In September he was pretty good again, but perhaps being used in lower-leverage situations we did not notice.  In his last 10 games he had a 2.89 ERA and struck out 11 in 9 1/3 innings.

I think that he will have the opportunity to shore up his mechanics in 2025 and has a chance to be his old self.  In a bullpen that subtracted Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez, that will make quite a difference.