The Philadelphia Phillies may very well lose catcher J.T. Realmuto to free agency, especially considering they need to re-sign Kyle Schwarber as well as address other needs.
So if Realmuto walks, who would the Phillies tab as a replacement?
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Rafael Marchan served as Philadelphia’s backup catcher in 2025, but it seems hard to imagine him taking on an everyday role. The Phillies also do not have any solutions in their farm system.
Well, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic polled Philadelphia fans to determine who they want at backstop next season, and while the overwhelming choice was Realmuto, a secondary option has emerged as the clear backup plan: Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman.
“Nearly two-thirds of fans want Realmuto to start on Opening Day. But more than 550 respondents (29 percent) were interested in getting younger at catcher — via a trade for the Orioles’ Adley Rutschman or another controllable player,” Varnes wrote. “But, if the Phillies are unwilling to part with top prospects like Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller, orchestrating a trade for a top young catcher could obviously be difficult.”
Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. Credit:Â Lexi Thompson-Imagn Images.
A two-time All-Star, Rutschman struggled this past season, slashing .220/.307/.366 with nine home runs and 29 RBI over 365 plate appearances. He struggled with injury issues throughout the year, playing in just 90 games.
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The 27-year-old broke into the big leagues in 2022 and posted an OPS north of .800 in each of his first two seasons, making an All-Star appearance in Year 2. He slashed .277/.374/.435 with 20 homers and 80 RBI in 2023. Rutschman then notched his second straight All-Star selection in 2024, but showed clear signs of decline, managing a .709 OPS.
While Rutschman’s bat may be slipping, however, he remains a terrific defender and would be an upgrade over the aging Realmuto in that department.
But is the former first-round pick worth such a substantial return? That’s the question, especially considering how much his offense has dipped these last two years.
Rutschman is under team control through the end of 2027, so the Orioles also don’t have to move him just yet. But if Baltimore did field trade offers for the Oregon State product, you can bet the Phillies would get involved if they lose Realmuto.