{"id":359406,"date":"2025-12-20T05:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T05:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/359406\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T05:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T05:12:08","slug":"the-latest-on-j-t-realmuto-phillies-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/359406\/","title":{"rendered":"The latest on J.T. Realmuto \u2013 Phillies Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Phillies are still pursing J.T. Realmuto. (Logan Gehman\/Phillies Nation)<\/p>\n

Keep track of all the latest offseason rumors pertaining to the Phillies on\u00a0Phillies Nation.<\/p>\n

Friday, Dec. 19: The latest on J.T. Realmuto\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Phillies aren\u2019t\u00a0pivoting away from J.T. Realmuto as their main catching target, though it sounds like they are at least thinking about other solutions. It\u2019s all taking a little bit longer than the Phillies have hoped. The catcher and the team are \u201clocked in a standoff,\u201d per The Athletic\u2019s Matt Gelb<\/a>. A reunion between the two is \u201cstill the expectation,\u201d but the Phillies have also \u201cpursued trade alternatives,\u201d per Gelb.<\/p>\n

Catcher is the main priority for the Phillies after adding Adolis Garcia to the outfield and making a pair of bullpen trades to go with the signing of Brad Keller to a two-year contract. \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Thursday, Dec. 18: Matt Strahm trade buzz continues<\/p>\n

The Matt Strahm trade buzz has continued this offseason. Before the Phillies made their signing of right-hander Brad Keller official on Thursday evening, a report from ESPN\u2019s Jeff Passan<\/a> dropped in the morning indicating that the Phillies are \u201clikely\u201d to trade Strahm.<\/p>\n

The left-hander has been one of Philadelphia\u2019s top high-leverage options out of the bullpen since joining the team in 2023, and he had a 2.74 ERA in 66 appearances this season. Strahm has had some postseason hiccups, but he\u2019s largely been a productive reliever capable of pitching in a variety of roles.<\/p>\n

If the Phillies do indeed trade Strahm, it could be a move to save money, as he\u2019s due $7.5 million. The club has two other lefties, Jos\u00e9 Alvarado and Tanner Banks, in its bullpen, and Strahm could get the Phillies some value. A Strahm trade could allow Philadelphia to address other needs on the roster, but a deal without redirecting the savings for 2026 could be a misuse of resources, since Strahm is still effective. \u2014 Ty Daubert<\/p>\n

Monday, Dec. 15: Phillies reportedly still interested in Harrison Bader after Adolis Garcia signing<\/p>\n

The Phillies may not be done reshaping the outfield, but it may take some payroll maneuvering. After signing former Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million contract, the Phillies \u201chave remained interested\u201d in re-signing center fielder Harrison Bader, per The Athletic\u2019s Matt Gelb<\/a>. Bader is seeking a three-year deal worth between $10-$15 million per season, per a previous report from Ken Rosenthal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Could the Phillies clear payroll space for a potential Bader reunion? They are not going to find any takers for Nick Castellanos and his $20 million salary, especially with Garcia now on the roster. The Phillies have no leverage and few are pouncing on the opportunity to acquire Castellanos after a down year. As Gelb mentions, an Alec Bohm trade could give the Phillies some payroll relief. Bohm is projected to make just over $10 million in his final year of arbitration, per MLB Trade Rumors. \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Monday, Dec. 15: Renewed interest in a familiar trade target?<\/p>\n

The Phillies visiting Rate Field in the few days before the 2025 trade deadline only added fuel to the idea<\/a> that Luis Robert Jr. could find himself in red pinstripes by the end of the week. Robert Jr. stayed put, but the concept might pick up steam again this winter.<\/p>\n

The Phillies have renewed interest in Robert Jr., according to a report from The Athletic\u2018s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon<\/a>. Sharing in that interest is an NL East rival which did so back in July, too: the Mets.<\/p>\n

A trade might not be as inspiring now as it would\u2019ve been at the deadline. Robert Jr. had a torrid July before cooling off in August, straining his left hamstring later in the month and missing the remainder of the season. He also earned a $5 million raise this offseason after the club picked up his $20 million option, likely in an effort to trade him for something either now or mid-season. <\/p>\n

That price tag is a huge one given his peaks and valleys, with considerably more valleys, offensively over the last few years. But Rosenthal and Sammon report that Chicago would consider paying down a good portion of his salary to sweeten the return.<\/p>\n

Given the paucity of quality right-handed hitting outfielders on the free-agent market, there\u2019s an opportunity for Chicago to exploit. It feels unlikely the Phillies would part with an upper-tier prospect for a player as inconsistent (and frequently injured) as Robert Jr. But with rumors that the Phillies could seek to trade a big-leaguer like Alec Bohm or Matt Strahm in an effort to free up payroll, perhaps there\u2019s a chance the Phillies could redirect those funds into a dart throw on Robert Jr. and use cash to offset prospect cost.<\/p>\n

The good version of Robert Jr. would fill a hole for the Phillies as their everyday center fielder or, less likely, a platoon partner for Brandon Marsh. Robert Jr.\u2019s OPSes against lefties the last three seasons, in reverse chronological order, are .842, .568 and .952. Unpredictable? Yes. Enticing? Evidently, at least a little bit. \u2013 Nathan Ackerman<\/p>\n

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