It’s hard to find a good catcher in the MLB, which is why J.T. Realmuto leaving the Philadelphia Phillies would be a very interesting story. It seems like a split isn’t impossible, and we’ll be breaking down if the San Diego Padres make sense as a new home for Realmuto.
When reading through Just Baseball’s article from Ryan Finkelstein on free agency fits, Realmuto to the Padres caught my attention.
Here’s what Finkelstein had to say about the possible move: “Realmuto is the type of veteran leader that makes a good team better, which is why there is every chance he returns to make another run in Philly. Another fun landing spot for him, however, would be San Diego, where he could help a Padres team that could use an upgrade over Freddy Fermin.”
It’s a fair argument, although the Padres weren’t the team that came to mind for Realmuto at first. That was the Tampa Bay Rays.
Either way, today, we’ll break down Realmuto’s possible fit with the Padres.
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J.T. Realmuto Predicted to Sign With The San Diego Padres
At Realmuto’s peak, he was one of the best players in baseball regardless of his position. Now 34 years old, it’s not shocking that he’s declined to a degree, but Realmuto is still a good player. His numbers from last season reflect that.
In 2025, Realmuto was in the 31st percentile for Batting Run Value, 64th for Baserunning Run Value, and 14th for Fielding Run Value.
Does J.T. Realmuto Fit With The San Diego Padres?
As Finkelstein mentioned, he believes the Padres could replace Freddy Fermin. The question is, would it be worth the money?
From a statistical perspective, Fermin had 2.0 WAR, five home runs, a .251 batting average, and a .297 OBP last season. The best way to compare Fermin and Realmuto, though, would be with their Savant numbers.
Last year, Fermin was in the 12th percentile for Batting Run Value, 26th for Baserunning Run Value, and 67th for Fielding Run Value. It seems like Fermin would be an upgrade for next season, but there’s one more factor that needs to be considered.
Fermin is 30 years old, four years younger than Realmuto. However, the Padres are coming off a 90-72 season, and their roster looks ready to make another playoff push in 2026.
If the Padres believe that Realmuto can get them over the hump, this move makes perfect sense.
J.T. Realmuto Stats
Realmuto has been in the MLB for 12 years now, and he’s recorded some very impressive stats during that span. In Realmuto’s MLB career, he has 38.7 WAR, 180 home runs, a .270 batting average, and a .328 OBP.