Catcher JT Realmuto and the Philadelphia Phillies agree on a $ 115.5 million five-year contract, ESPN’s Jeff Passan confirmed.
The average annual value of $ 23.1 million in Realmuto’s transaction is the highest for any catcher in Major League Baseball history. Realmuto is also just the third catcher in MLB history to sign a contract worth more than $ 100 million. He joins Joe Mauer (eight years, $ 184 million expansion with the Minnesota Twins in 2010) and Buster Posey (nine years, $ 167 million expansion with the San Francisco Giants in 2013). Mauer previously held the record for the highest average annual value, with its 2010 agreement, at $ 23 million.
Realmuto is the first catcher to sign a contract worth more than $ 100 million in free agency.
The 29-year-old Realmuto is still one of the best overall catchers in the majors, hitting .266 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs with the Phillies during the pandemic shortened 2020 season. He did not accept a $ 18.9 million one-year offer, but rather a long-term deal in the free agent market.
Since 2018, Realmuto leads all MLB catchers in WAR (10.1), RBIs (189) and stolen bases (16) and is second in pass percentage (.489) and OPS (.825). His 57 home games during the team are third among MLB catchers.
Defensively, he has had 11 runs saved in the past two seasons, which is fourth among the catchers who have played more than 1,000 overs.
Realmuto hit .275 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs while earning its second consecutive All-Star pick in 2019, leading the National League with 43 runners thrown out in its first season in Philadelphia. He was acquired in February 2019 in an agreement that sent catcher Jorge Alfaro, two prospects on the campsite and international bonus pool money for the signing of the Miami Marlins.
Realmuto lost its arbitration case against the Phillies before last season and received a $ 6.05 million increase to $ 10 million; he asked for $ 12.4 million. He said he had no resentment over the loss.
“I like this organization,” he said. “They have been great to me and my family since I showed up. From top to bottom they are good people and they care about baseball. It’s important to me.”
Realmuto, a .278 career, was a first All-Star in his fourth season in 2018 when he scored .277 and career highs with 21 homers, 74 RBIs and an OPS of .825.
The news of Realmuto’s deal was first reported by MLB reporter Craig Mish.
ESPN Statistics and information contributed to this report.