Overview
- Realmuto, who turns 35 next season, enters free agency after a 2025 season with a .257 average, 12 home runs and a .699 OPS, nine percent below league‑average by OPS+.
- Despite the offensive dip, team leaders praise his game‑calling, leadership and durability, highlighted by 132 starts behind the plate and rare shake‑offs from ace Zack Wheeler.
- Philadelphia lacks an established in‑house replacement, with backup Rafael Marchán unproven as an everyday catcher after posting a .210 average and .587 OPS.
- The open market offers few starting‑caliber options at catcher, and recent trends suggest contract length, rather than top‑of‑market dollars, will drive any Realmuto deal for a player his age.
- If he departs, analysts point to trades as the likeliest path, with names such as Ryan Jeffers and Jonah Heim discussed and a Bleacher Report prediction speculating a pursuit of Adley Rutschman.