In addition to the outfield concerns the Philadelphia Phillies face for the upcoming season, there are also significant questions regarding the catcher position for 2025.
J.T. Realmuto will remain the starting catcher and play the majority of games, but the front office and coaching staff are already devising strategies to reduce his regular-season workload in order to keep him fresh for the playoffs.
At 33, Realmuto was once considered the best catcher in baseball, a title still attached to him, despite his recent decline in performance, particularly at the plate.
In 2022, Realmuto earned both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, hitting .276/.342/.478 with 22 home runs, 84 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 130, while also accumulating 11 Defensive Runs Saved and catching a league-leading 30 stolen bases in 133 games behind the plate.
However, that marked the peak of his career.
Since then, his OPS+ has dropped to 105 and 109 in the past two seasons, with his Defensive Runs Saved numbers falling to -4 and 0, respectively.
Garrett Stubbs, the current backup, has struggled offensively when given opportunities, which opens the door for former top prospect Rafael Marchan to get more playing time if he can stay healthy and perform at the plate.
The Phillies also added Triple-A catcher Paul McIntosh in the trade for Jesús Luzardo, strengthening their depth. Additionally, in a quieter move highlighted by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors, they signed Payton Henry to a minor league deal.
Henry, a sixth-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016, was traded to the Miami Marlins in 2021 after progressing through the Brewers’ system. He made his MLB debut that year but has only played 20 games across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with a disappointing slash line of .186/.314/.209, zero home runs, one extra-base hit, and four RBIs in 49 plate appearances.
Although Henry is unlikely to make an impact for the Phillies this season, he adds depth as the organization looks ahead to its plans for the catcher position in 2025 and beyond.
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