The Phillies have three big free agents coming up next year: Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez.
Phillies Nation readers can weigh in on who they want to see get an extension. Here’s what our staff thinks.
Loading ...Who should the Phillies prioritize in extension talks?
Destiny Lugardo — Site Directior: J.T. Realmuto
Flashback to the end of the St. Louis series in July 2022. Realmuto had a .684 OPS. He had to answer questions about why he could not travel to Toronto for the Blue Jays series. Many believed he was no longer a solid offensive player and declared the remaining three-and-a-half years of his contract an albatross.
He responded by going on one of the more incredible hot streaks we have seen in recent Phillies history. He raised his OPS by nearly 100 points in a 17-game span from July 15 to Aug. 9, posting a .393/.456/.836 slash line. He ended 2022 with an .820 OPS and finished seventh in National League MVP voting. Nobody expected this kind of a comeback.
The lesson here is to not underestimate Realmuto’s ability to surprise you. It’s going to be even more challenging for him to make a meaningful difference at the plate while playing around 130 games at age 34, but take his numbers after knee surgery last year as an encouraging sign. In 48 games after his return, Realmuto had a .788 OPS. Only three catchers had a higher OPS in that same span (min. 190 plate appearances).
The Phillies should explore getting ahead of a great Realmuto season and lock him up now before the price goes up.
Ty Daubert — Editorial Director: J.T. Realmuto
Replacing Realmuto would likely be tough for the Phillies in 2026 and beyond. His durability, offensive production compared to other catchers and work with the pitching staff have made him an incredibly valuable player since he was traded to Philadelphia in 2019 and have helped propel the Phillies into contention over the past three seasons. With no clear replacement in the organization, keeping Realmuto around would be beneficial.
Sure, Realmuto hasn’t been the Silver Slugger he once was over the last two years, and he started to finally show some wear and tear in 2024 as he missed time due to knee surgery. That may lead to him playing less in 2025. Still, less of Realmuto is a better bet than most catchers around the major leagues. He may not be an Iron Man going forward, but Realmuto, who turns 34 next month, should still have some quality production left in him for a while.
Eduardo Tait, a power-hitting catching prospect in the Phillies system, is only 18 years old. Logan O’Hoppe was traded in 2022. That leaves the Phillies without a starting-caliber catcher ready to step in for Realmuto, who plays a massive role with the club. A short-term contract to keep him in Philadelphia after this upcoming season just seems to make sense for both sides.
Nathan Ackerman — Staff Writer: Kyle Schwarber
All due respect to Realmuto and Suárez, both integral pieces to the last three years of Phillies success, but it’s Schwarber, and it’s not close. He’s the glue that holds together the lineup — the weakest part of the team, as things stand, so it can’t afford to lose him — and easily the biggest power threat in an offense that lacks thump. His profile (power and plate discipline) will age tremendously. And none of that even touches on his importance in the clubhouse.
Realmuto’s clubhouse presence is an asset, too, but aging is a far greater concern for the nearly 34-year-old backstop. His workload has waned each of the last three years … and yet so has his production. Catcher is a much tougher position to fill, but the Phillies have some depth to help them do it. As for Suárez, letting him walk will be tough. But the Phillies’ rotation will hardly suffer. The same can’t be said for a Schwarber-less lineup.
Bailey Digh — Staff Writer: Kyle Schwarber
Here’s what went through my mind when thinking about how to answer.
Of the three, Suárez would be the least of my worries right now. 2025 is a prove-it year for the left-hander. I’d want to wait things out to see if he can be consistent and healthy for a full season before offering him a contract. Also, with how much free-agent starters are signing for, I’m not sure Suárez and his camp (he’s a Scott Boras client) would entertain the idea of signing an extension this spring.
So, the decision comes down to Schwarber or Realmuto.
Realmuto is important to the Phillies. He’s more than an above-average catcher. He’s a key part of the pitching staff. Realmuto is involved in the game-planning process. He has a sense of how to attack hitters throughout a game. He’s as important as the pitchers and pitching coaches the organization employs. If he hits the open market, I don’t know how clubs would value him. He’d be entering his age-35 season in 2026. I don’t think many clubs would get into a bidding war for a mid-30s catcher.
I think Realmuto would be easier to re-sign if he becomes a free agent. I’d also want to see how he holds up this year before giving him another contract.
Schwarber, entering his age-32 season, is a full-time designated hitter. I think he’ll age gracefully within that role. Schwarber has been one of the better hitters in baseball during his Phillies tenure, and I’d bet he’ll be the same this year, putting him at the top of the free-agent market next winter when there won’t be many bats of his caliber available to sign.
I wouldn’t be comfortable letting Schwarber hit the open market. It would only drive his cost up, which could already be higher than when he signed with the Phillies before the 2022 season.
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