The JT Realmuto Balancing Act: Phillies in search of a suitable backup catcher to give the B.C.I.B. some much needed time off

The health and performance of JT Realmuto was a main point of discussion for Rob Thomson, Dave Dombrowski, and Philadelphia Phillies year-end press conferences yesterday.

Rob Thomson gets contract extension through 2026; Phillies’ coaching staff returning next season >>

Both president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager Rob Thomson hinted during their year-end press conferences that Realmuto could benefit from more rest moving forward, especially as he approaches his 34th birthday next March.

Dombrowski mentioned that getting the three-time All-Star on board with that plan may prove challenging which is something that doesn’t really hold weight with me as we begin to navigate the 2024 MLB offseason.

Trust me, I get it. JT Realmuto has always prided himself on being a workhorse behind the plate, and he didn’t hold back when questioned about the idea of taking more days off during Spring Training. He wants to play and rightfully so, but at some point, something has to give, ya know?

Thomson recognizes that convincing Realmuto to accept more rest will take some finesse. “He’s a tough guy. He’s a guy like a lot of our guys; they want to play every day. I’ll have to do some convincing, I guess,” Thomson said, smiling. [Source]

The task is to strike a balance: while the regular season demands consistent effort, the ultimate goal is a healthy roster come October. Realmuto’s performance in the NLDS was a concern—he went 0-for-11 with three walks in the four-game series, which raises questions about whether fatigue played a role.

JT Realmuto was very good in August and September

After all, he underwent right knee surgery that sidelined him for about five weeks during the summer. He hit .286 in the final month of the regular season games leading up to the playoffs, suggesting that his struggles might be more of a cold streak rather than fatigue.

JT Realmuto was just as good in August too. While the rest of the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup struggled, he held a .274 batting average with 23 hits, 4 homers, 17 RBIs and 11 runs scored in 23 games during the month after only playing seven games in July.

Since joining the Phillies in 2019, Realmuto has caught an astounding 5,548 1/3 innings during the regular season, far surpassing the next closest catcher, Christian Vázquez, who logged 4,707 1/3 innings.

As Realmuto enters his 11th full MLB season, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that a reduction in workload may be necessary for his longevity and effectiveness and to properly facilitate this, the Phillies need to feel confident in their backup catcher situation.

Garrett Stubbs, known for his defensive skills and presence in the clubhouse, has struggled offensively since a solid 2022 season, hitting just .206 over the last two years.

Dombrowski acknowledged that it’s tough for players like Stubbs to find offensive rhythm without regular at-bats which is fine but when the backup catcher becomes more of a liability and prevents your everyday starter from getting some rest, then it causes a significant issue.

Personally, I think the Chief Vibe Officer is a dead man walking in terms of being on the Phillies’ roster in 2025. Stubbs is a great guy and definitely brings a certain level of chemistry to the locker room, however Rafael Marchán had a promising showing during JT Realmuto’s absence last summer, batting .294 with three home runs in 17 games.

Marchán will run out of minor league options next year, which means he’ll either have to make the Opening Day roster or be traded, as he can’t be sent back to Triple-A without clearing waivers.

His biggest hurdle has been staying healthy which leads me to believe that the best strategy for the Phillies may be to bring both Stubbs and Marchán to Spring Training to battle it out for the backup catcher role behind JT Realmuto.

If Marchán is healthy, he’s likely the frontrunner. Stubbs, though, has an option left, which complicates things; it would be odd to send a 31-year-old with big-league experience back down to Triple-A.

One thing is clear: as JT Realmuto enters a crucial contract year, the Phillies need to find a way to scale back his playing time in 2025 without sacrificing performance when he’s out of the lineup.

Thomson and Dombrowski have their work cut out for them in convincing JT Realmuto and establishing a reliable backup situation. If they succeed, it could be a game-changer for the Phillies’ later on in the 2025 season.

Join The Chase