The Philadelphia Phillies are facing major challenges this offseason. After running away with the National League East in 2025, the Phillies were beaten in four games by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. That result was clearly disappointing, but the Phillies were the only team to register a victory over the Dodgers in the three rounds of the National League playoffs.
That’s cold comfort to Phillies fans, who are desperate to see their team win its first World Series title since 2008 and the third in the team’s long history. If the Phillies are going to remain the dominant team in the division and continue to challenge the Dodgers, they will have to make sharp decisions regarding three major free agents.
### Phillies Boss Dave Dombrowski in a Difficult Position
Catcher J.T. Realmuto, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, and pitcher Ranger Suarez are all headed for free agency this offseason, leaving Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski with difficult decisions to make. The Phillies clearly need all three players back if they want to compete at a high level, but finding a way to retain them without sending the team into a challenging financial position is a major hurdle.
Most observers believe that Realmuto will be the Phillies’ No. 3 priority in free agency.
### Kyle Schwarber: Premier Power Hitter
Kyle Schwarber is one of the premier power hitters in the sport, alongside stars like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Cal Raleigh. Schwarber is coming off a 56-home run season and has averaged 46.8 homers during his four seasons in Philadelphia.
At 32 years old, Schwarber is no longer in the early upswing of his career, but he should remain a steady power presence for the next few years. Dombrowski should be confident that a four-year deal with the left-handed slugger will bring consistent production to the Phillies lineup.
### Ranger Suarez: Reliable Starting Pitcher
Left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez ranks as the Phillies’ No. 3 starter behind Christopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo. Suarez finished last season with a 12-8 record, a 3.20 earned run average, and 151 strikeouts in 157.1 innings pitched.
At 29 years old, Suarez is definitely worth keeping as part of the team’s starting rotation.
### J.T. Realmuto: Elite Catcher with Age Concerns
Realmuto is still a terrific player but has reached the age of 34, which is often when catchers find it difficult to withstand the physical demands of catching more than 125 games per season. Dombrowski must decide if Realmuto can maintain his excellent level of play for at least two more seasons.
Realmuto had a solid 2025 season, slashing .257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and 52 runs batted in (RBIs). He played in 134 games, though his offensive production was lower than in 2022 and 2023, when he played 139 and 135 games respectively.
### Realmuto’s Defensive Excellence
Beyond his offensive numbers, Realmuto remains an elite defensive catcher. He is highly skilled at controlling the opponent’s running game, with a pop time that regularly ranks among the best in the game.
If the Phillies decide not to bring back Realmuto, their other free agent catching options appear limited. Christian Vazquez and Salvador Perez are the main alternatives. Vazquez, 35, has not caught more than 119 games in a season since 2022, while Perez, 36, likely will stay with the Kansas City Royals. Young catcher Jhonny De Los Santos, 26, is in the prime of his career but batted only .210/.282/.305 over 42 games, with 2 home runs and 13 RBIs. There is little evidence he could handle a full-time role on a contending team.
### Recommended Offer for Realmuto
The Phillies signed Realmuto to a five-year, $115 million deal in 2021, which now seems too lengthy for this stage of his career. The Phillies would likely prefer to offer a two-year contract, but Realmuto would almost certainly seek a four-year deal.
A clear compromise would be a three-year contract. Realmuto has been earning an average of $23 million per season, which might be too high given the team’s financial constraints and other free-agent priorities.
A new three-year deal averaging $20 million per year would provide Realmuto with a fair contract, while securing stability at the catcher position for the Phillies.
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The offseason decisions surrounding Realmuto, Schwarber, and Suarez will be crucial for the Phillies as they aim to remain competitive in the National League and chase their long-awaited World Series title. Fans and management alike will be watching closely as Dave Dombrowski navigates these tough choices.
https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/the-perfect-60m-contract-phillies-must-offer-jt-realmuto-to-re-sign-him
