Couples Therapy: Compromise is Key to Phillies Retaining J.T. Realmuto
The Phillies introduced Dave Dombrowski as their new team president and have re-attached the proverbial wheels to the organization.
I wouldn’t say the Phils are back on track quite yet, but they’re also not sliding off the rails.
OK, enough with the locomotive puns.
Let’s get down to brass tacks.
The Dombrowski hiring was not the only bright spot this past dreary December week. Not by a long shot. The New York Mets agreed to a 4-year, 40 million deal with free-agent catcher James McCann, letting Phillies fans breathe a sigh of relief that J.T. Realmuto isn’t going to be poached by our division rival. So now what? With McCann to the Mets and Dombrowski leading the front office, do the Phillies have a shot at signing the free-agent, fan-favorite catcher?
Here’s what we know: J.T. wants to set a new standard for free-agent catchers (something the McCann bargain surely didn’t do) and the Phils don’t have a ton of money to spend. Dombrowski has also kept his cards close to his chest regarding a Realmuto signing, stating only his uncertainty concerning this year’s free-agent market. Additionally, with an estimated 2021 payroll of $138 million, the Phils could have enough to sign Realmuto — granted they can balance his contract with the myriad of holes in the roster.
So Realmuto’s objective and the COVID-19 impacted free-agent market are at odds. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t have a happy ending in Philadelphia. Think of this winter as the back half of a romantic comedy — the ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ as screenwriters would call it — in which the protagonist (the Phillies) has lost the love interest (Realmuto) and must come to grips with whatever flaw he has in order to win her back in dramatic fashion at the end of the movie.
The Phillies’ fatal flaw? Well, there are many, but for arguments’ sake let’s just pick one: John Middleton’s unwillingness to spend big in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hopefully, Darth Vader Dombrowski can twist Middleton’s arm enough to actually make something of the Phillies’ current window of contention. Also important is the element of compromise. McCann’s reported 4-year, 40-million deal won’t set the market for all future catchers, but it very well may have set the tone for the position this winter. In an alternate reality not impacted by a raging pandemic, Realmuto would have been a no-brainer for a record-setting, grandfather deal that would smash Joe Mauer’s 8-year/$184-million contract with an average annual value of 23 million.
Realmuto may still get such a deal elsewhere, but with even the Met’s new ownership pinching pennies on the McCann deal, that likelihood seems to have lessened.
Now for the hard part: compromise.
Photo: Rich Schultz/Getty Images
For J.T., it’s going to have to be the realization that he hit free agency in the worst moment in the history of sports, combined with a (hopeful) intent to grow into a contender with Philadelphia. For Middleton and the Phillies, there must be a willingness to not only retain the best catcher in baseball and maximize their window of contention but also to not alienate Realmuto-supporter and face of the franchise Bryce Harper.
Here’s how it could pan out: 4 years for 95 million. Bump it up to 100 million if you have to. Realmuto’s worth it. With a deal in this range, both parties could be happy campers. Realmuto would reset the catcher’s value by surpassing Mauer’s annual salary of 23 million. He would also gain the security of a multi-year deal while reentering what will undoubtedly be a more lucrative free-agent market at the ripe age of 33; dependent on his performance he could also be up for a 2-3 year contract extension.
For Middleton and the Phillies, this deal would give them some wiggle room this offseason while providing time to see what they have in catching prospect Rafael Marchan. The Phils could also backload Realmuto’s deal — paying him more in years 3-4 and less in years 1-2 to create room for more offseason additions this winter.
Would Realmuto balk at this offer? Potentially? Is this even the best possible offer the Phillies could make? Probably not.
But a contract in the 4-5 year, 90-110 million range could be the compromise necessary in bringing Realmuto back to Philadelphia.
Featured Image: Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Phillies