Position: Catcher
Bats/Throws: R/R
Age: 29
Traditional Stats: .266/.349/.491, 47 games, six doubles, 11 HR, 32 RBI
Advanced Stats: 1.2 bWAR, 1.7 fWAR, 123 OPS+, 125 wRC
Defensive Stats: 25% CS, -1 DRS, 2.2 FRM
Back up the Brinks truck.
J.T. Realmuto, the best catcher in baseball, is a free agent this winter and is projected to become the highest paid player at his position.
With good hitting catchers becoming a scarcity around the league, Realmuto will hit the open market at the perfect time with several clubs looking for an upgrade behind the plate.
The Mets are one of said clubs as it is unlikely they will pickup Wilson Ramos‘ $10 million option given a down year offensively (.239/.297/.387, 89 wRC+. five home runs, 15 RBI) and another poor season of defense (-1 defensive runs saved, -0.7 FRM, and six-for-28 caught stealing).
Realmuto, on the other hand, has put up a monstrous 95 home runs, 358 RBIs, and a slash line of .278/.328/.455 in seven career seasons playing for the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies. He is also known for his defense, having earned a Gold Glove award in 2019 with 12 defensive runs saved.
The soon-to-be 30-year-old catcher is a major upgrade for the Mets both with his bat and glove. Realmuto, a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger, would seemingly slide right into the middle of the Amazins’ lineup that led the league in several offensive categories in 2020.
Although Bryce Harper was seen repping a Realmuto jersey to urge the Phillies to re-sign the veteran catcher, it will not prevent the expectation of a bidding war between several clubs.
Luckily, Steve Cohen is expected to take over as the Mets’ majority owner in November and is capable of outspending any team for Realmuto, who should be a top priority on the free agent wishlist.
Contract
Prior to COVID-19 and pro-rated salaries in 2020, Realmuto was set to make $10 million on the final year of his deal with the Phillies.
Buster Posey is currently the highest paid catcher in Major League Baseball, making $21.4 million a year.
Realmuto will likely be looking to exceed this mark and could command somewhere around $22 million annually. The Mets should be able to lock him down for four years, $88 million.
Recommendation
The Mets have had catching issues for what seems like an eternity and Realmuto would solve a need in both the short and long term.
The options are thin on the market and if they aren’t aggressive enough, they could miss out on the best candidate.
While Realmuto is pricey, the acquisition would kill two birds with one stone, both as an impact bat and upgrade defensively at a position that’s a major hole on the roster.
Message to Steve Cohen: go get your guy.
