As the timid January Sun squeezes its weak heat over a desolate Citizens Bank Park, fans lie snug by their Ikea space heaters, anxiously dreaming of the “Dodger beating” talent that remains on the market. Maybe the recently hitched Bo Bichette, who’s primed to make another big commitment, this time to smash baseballs. Don’t forget about beloved ex-Phillies P Ranger Suarez, who sits teamless, reliving memories of I-95 traffic. Or, most notably, JT Realmuto, who is yet to be signed after many expected Dave Dombrowski to retain the aging, heavily rewarded backstop unquestioningly.

Phillies Rumors: Bohm, Realmuto, Suarez, Bichette, Catcher Market

Several situations remain unresolved, but the picture is becoming clear. The Phillies have major decisions to make, and soon. They don’t have an adequate catcher (for now), a game-changing bat wants to taste Red-October, and trade scenarios are being tossed around like a South Street pizza shop. Smoke? Fire? Let’s dive in.

Alec Bohm

An interesting piece in this year’s offseason puzzle. The Phillies value Bohm’s bat, particularly his ability to rope doubles when healthy. Yet, he’s a very streaky, power-limited third baseman who seems to have a vendetta against his bat when striking out. There’s still reason to believe Bohm can grow, creating havoc at the plate if healthy for a full season. What’s tough to stomach is the $10.2M that Bohm will receive after Thursday’s arbitration deadline. 

On Wednesday, the team met with Bohm’s representation to discuss limiting or mitigating some of Bohm’s expected 2026 financial impact. Hand in hand with the lack of discretion surrounding recent trade rumors, it was said negotiations were “not off to a hot start. Not that arbitration negotiations are ever graceful. The remaining talks were bumpy, but as later reported by the Phillies, the team and Alec Bohm ultimately agreed on the $10.2M as expected. That doesn’t mean both parties are currently gleaming with joy.

The team’s approach during negotiations strongly signaled they’re not happy with Bohm’s production at his current price. You could also ponder the idea that after Bohm’s representation showed unhappiness or reluctance to budge on price, the Phillies didn’t see the need to battle with a player they’ll end up trading in the near future. Moving Bohm would introduce an opportunity to add a more reliable, damaging bat to the lineup. Some would say Bo Bichette fits. Nonetheless, the itch to move Alec Bohm stems from the short window in which the team needs to maximize its chances of a World Series before the high-priced core ages out of relevance. 

J.T. Realmuto

Both Realmuto and the Phillies have mutual interest in a return. The Phillies offered a few “variations” of a contract to Realmuto but were unsuccessful. Dave Dombrowski dusted off his BlackBerry, which had been packed alongside the landline he used to trade Randy Johnson as a prospect. He made some calls, and what followed was a flood of alternative plans, including heavy Bo Bichette rumors, which are fully legit. That doesn’t mean JT Realmuto is out of the equation. It’s still very much a possibility that JT returns on a 3-year deal. 

The first issue is the lack of knowledge about JT’s market. The lack of information about competing offers makes it hard for the team to make a decision, since they may be the lowest bidder. That would likely force Realmuto to take the higher pay day, even if Philadelphia offered more money. The second issue, well, Matt Gelb of the Athletic put it this way: “The winter before Realmuto signed his long-term extension, he went to an arbitration hearing with the #Phillies over $2.4 million. (The Phillies) tried to settle beforehand at the midpoint, but Realmuto’s camp rejected. “No hard feelings,” the veteran catcher said.

It’s clear JT Realmuto still wants to be respected and paid like one of the top catchers in baseball. It makes sense after seeing how much Realmuto cared about an extra $2.4M while sporting the top contract by any catcher in baseball. The Phillies’ stance starts and ends with offensive production, which has dipped. 

I’m hearing there are a few teams quietly monitoring the Gold Glove catcher. The San Diego Padres could take a swing at Realmuto. Same with the Pirates, who offer a shorter commute and the chance to mentor Paul Skenes. If Realmuto wants to head back to sunny Florida, both the Rays and Marlins would likely welcome the veteran, which isn’t very desirable for competing in their respective divisions. Philadelphia is still very much in play. 

Ranger Suárez

The dangerous Ranger Suárez is one of two southpaw starting pitchers still available. He’s clearly number one in the hearts of Phillies fans, but in the market, it’s a toss-up. Suarez and Framber Valdez are two of the hottest arms on the market, with Valdez likely to earn closer to $150M compared to Suarez’s $115M. The economy-friendly choice points to Ranger Suarez, who’s younger and has a slight edge in postseason play. Valdez did throw a no-hitter against the Phillies in the 2022 World Series, but struggled in recent outings. In a perfect world, the Phillies would still like to retain Suarez; he’s a young, proven pitcher who’s been in the system since he was a teenager. The market, competition, and outright financial limitations will all but end Ranger Danger’s time at the Bank.

The longer Suárez stays unsigned, the more likely it becomes that another club meets his terms. The Mets, Orioles, and a few others are ready to pounce. It was said that either Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez will each land with one of the Mets or Baltimore. Philly fans hope it’s not Suarez in blue and orange. 

“Go Gette Bichette?”

The Bo Bichette buzz around the Phillies continues to heat up. It’s become common knowledge that the Phillies have done more than surface-level homework on Bichette. Reports claim the current Phillies have been recruiting Bichette via texts. Similar to the style in which Harper recruited Trea Turner and others with the help of hitting coach Kevin Long. Bo Bichette and new Phillies Bench Coach Don Mattingly have a great relationship. That could add juice to Bichette’s final decision if offers are comparable. Adding Bichette would certainly require roster shuffling, likely moving on from Alec Bohm at third base or altering the infield alignment.

In any case, the front office views Bo Bichette as a premium bat upgrade and, in some ways, the infield version of the bat that Nick Castellanos never was. While competition remains heavy, the Phillies’ interest is real, and so is Bo Bichette’s. I can guarantee that. The players want to add Bichette, and the front office wants to deliver. There is worry that moving on from JT Realmuto could upset some of those on the mound. 

Catching Alternatives

If the Phillies ultimately move on from J.T. Realmuto, the organization has fallback options in place. It makes sense that catcher Ryan Jeffers has emerged as a logical trade target. Jeffers offers right-handed power, which is needed in Philadelphia. He’s also durable, just like JT. What he lacks is his defense and ability to move like Realmuto. The pitcher-catcher relationship has been important for the Phillies for many years.

It’s surely a tough act to follow up. Free-agent veterans such as Victor Caratini have been thrown around. Same with Travis d’Arnaud. Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs remain valued internally for their familiarity with staff. Any path away from Realmuto would represent a step down overall, which is tricky to balance. Therefore, a door likely exists for a reunion with Realmuto if he budges a bit. 

Main Photo Credits:  Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images