How the Realmuto Signing Impacts the Next Moves
It’s likely that if Bo Bichette accepted the reported offer that was floated to him by the Phillies, then J.T. Realmuto would have landed elsewhere. The domino effect of the Bichette move likely means more than one simple transaction in Philadelphia.
While we are not 100% sure how much budget Dave Dombrowski has to work with, the reported offer to Bichette was $200 million over seven years ($28.5 AAV). If the Realmuto money, $15 million AAV, is factored in, then the Phillies have at least a $13 million cushion to work with from the information we know. Perhaps even more.
Of the remaining free agents, Cody Bellinger, Framber Valdez, and Lucas Giolitto are the only players projected at a $20 million AAV or higher, according to Spotrac. I’m sure others will get there, but they are not currently projected to.
We also know Philadelphia would love to shed the salary of Nick Castellanos, who is on the last year of a deal at $20 million for 2026. In order to move him, the Phillies will have to eat some money; but the biggest question is how much?
Alec Bohm has been another name floated in trade rumors, as his $10.2 million contract would free up some money. But after the Bichette and Bregman signings, it looks like the Phillies are going to need Bohm to fill third base. The open market options are thinning quite quickly.
As it stands today, the Phillies are essentially the same team minus Harrison Bader and Ranger Suarez, two players they relied on heavily down the stretch. In order to keep pace with the top dogs of the National League, a significant move — or two — is still needed.