At 9 a.m on Wednesday morning, J.T. Realmuto became a free agent.

The 30-year old catcher is seeking to become the highest paid catcher in baseball, looking in the neighborhood of $23 million annually.

While the Phillies will be involved in retaining his services, they will have a couple of big-market competitors, mainly the New York Mets and Yankees.

However according to NBC Sports Philadelphia Phillies insider Jim Salisbury, Realmuto would like to remain in Philadelphia and isn't 'particularly keen on playing in New York' unless they pay a record price for his services.

According to a person close to Realmuto, the catcher, an Oklahoma native, would like to remain in Philadelphia and is not particularly keen on playing in New York. However, if that's where the record-setting money is, Realmuto will eat heroes instead of hoagies.

Phillies rightfielder Bryce Harper has been focal about his desire for the team to retain Realmuto.

"J.T. Realmuto needs to be our catcher next season," Harper said at the end of the season. "I don't think that should even be a question."

The Phillies will have big market competition for Realmuto, will the Phillies pony up the money?

We're about to find out.

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