The Phillies and the pending free agent receiver JT Realmuto He discussed a contract extension before Major League Baseball froze transactions in March due to the COVID-19 shutdown. That freeze was lifted last week, but the Phillies and Realmuto have not restarted the talks, as relayed by Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Addressing Realmuto status on Monday, general manager Matt Klentak said: “Honestly, we’ve been kind of like a nose on the ground, admission tests and people here, so I haven’t touched base with [Realmuto’s camp]. As fast as a timeline, I just don’t know. I need to talk to them. “
Realmuto expressed optimism about a possible extension just a month and a half ago, but the game’s financial situation has certainly worsened since then. Therefore, it is highly questionable whether any free agent who soon becomes an agent, even a star like Realmuto, considered the sport’s top defender, will do as well on his next contract as he would have before the pandemic.
Klentak, for his part, acknowledged that the game has changed from a monetary point of view in recent months, saying “The landscape we left in March is different from the one we return now.” And while the Phillies “I still love having [Realmuto] red striped long term “ According to Klentak, he added that “There is a lot of uncertainty in the game right now on a variety of levels. We just have to play that. “
Before the extension talks stopped, Realmuto agent Jeff Berry of CAA Sports may have been looking for a contract in the five-year, $ 130MM range for his client, Lauber reports. That payday, one that would average $ 26MM per year, would make Realmuto the highest-paid receiver in baseball history annually, beating the $ 23MM he’s now retired. Joe Mauer raised from the Twins in the mega deal he signed in 2010 (however, Mauer had a much longer and more expensive contract worth $ 184MM for eight seasons). Whether that was a realistic selling price in the first place is debatable, but given the less favorable financial circumstances of the sport, not to mention that Realmuto will turn 30 before the 2021 campaign begins, it’s likely to be even more difficult to come by. in the coming months.
