According to MLB Network’s Craig Mish, the Philadelphia Phillies and catcher J.T. Realmuto have agreed to a five-year contract worth $115.5 million.
Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports confirmed that Realmuto will earn $20 million in 2021 ($10 million deferred) and an equal $23.875 million per season from 2022 through 2025.
Since the Mets signed James McCann, there hadn’t been much in terms of rumors around the best catcher in the game, but the two-time All-Star finally got the contract he was looking for.
Realmuto, who turns 30 on March 18, has spent the past two seasons in Philadelphia following five fruitful years in Miami.
Realmuto returning on an average annual contract value of $23.1 million per year makes him the highest-paid catcher per AAV in league history and one of four Phillies set to make over $20 million next year, joining Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, and Andrew McCutchen.
The Phillies, who were rumored to have lost approximately $145 million during 2020, have now handed out the second-largest free-agent contract this winter (George Springer, six-year, $150 million deal with Toronto).
Realmuto is a career .278/.328/.455 hitter with two All-Star nods, two Silver Slugger Awards, and a Gold Glove to his credit.
