The Phillies finalized J.T. Realmuto’s three-year, $45 million return Tuesday, capping a dramatic weekend pivot after losing free-agent infielder Bo Bichette to the Mets on a three-year, $126 million pact.
At a Glance
- Philadelphia struck out on Bichette last Friday
- Within an hour the front office re-engaged Realmuto
- The catcher deal keeps a clubhouse leader in red pinstripes
- Why it matters: The swift rebound shows the club’s refusal to exit the winter empty-handed
Dave Dombrowski admitted the Bichette miss stung.
“It’s a gut punch. I mean, you feel it,” he said.
“That day, you are very upset… but you have to pick yourself off and shake it off… you need to move forward.”
The Phillies did exactly that.
Dombrowski phoned Realmuto’s agent almost immediately after the Bichette talks collapsed.
“I don’t know the number of minutes, but it was very fast,” he noted.
Priority All Along
Dombrowski stressed that retaining Realmuto never left the winter checklist.
“We always wanted to bring JT back. That was always a priority for us,” he said.
A late-stage gap on dollars held things up.
“There was a disagreement as far as dollars concerned… and we couldn’t bridge that gap to the very end.”
Once Bichette chose New York’s offer-complete with player options after each of the first two seasons-the Phillies pivoted to close the Realmuto file.
Opt-Out Philosophy
Philadelphia has now signed ten contracts of three years or more since Bryce Harper’s 13-year, $330 million deal in 2019, averaging $24.5 million annually.
The club’s reported seven-year, $200 million pitch to Bichette would have topped $28.5 million a season, but the inclusion of opt-outs proved decisive.
Dombrowski remains firm against them, especially for a team above the luxury-tax threshold.
“If the player has a bad year, they opt in. If they get hurt, they opt in… if they opt out, it’s generally because they’ve had a good year,” he said.
The stance is long-held, not Philadelphia-specific.
Roster Turnover
Manager Rob Thomson rejected the notion that the Phillies are simply running the 2025 roster back.
“We’re going to have three new relievers. We’ve got a new right fielder,” he said.
“Crawford’s going to get every chance to play. We’ve probably got a rookie starting in Painter. We’ve got Otto Kemp. So we’re turning over 20 to 25 percent of our roster.”
Thomson emphasized high internal expectations.
“Very high. We got a good ball club going in… we’re going to infuse some youth into this lineup… I feel really good about it.”
Wheeler Update
Zack Wheeler, whose previous season ended early, has resumed throwing.
“He’s throwing… up to 90 feet he has,” Dombrowski said.
The right-hander is scheduled for another light session Thursday.
No mound timetable yet, but early reports are positive.
Thomson confirmed Wheeler is at 90 feet on flat ground and “looks good.”
Sánchez and WBC
Cristopher Sánchez, fresh off his first 200-inning campaign, is a candidate to pitch for his home country in the World Baseball Classic.
Thomson called the honor significant while acknowledging the risk.
“You’re holding your breath when the guys go, but at the end of it, if they come out of it clean, I think it’s really good,” he said.
With Ranger Suárez no longer on the staff, Sánchez heads into 2026 as a rotation anchor.
Final Word
Dombrowski likes the club as constructed.
“I like our club. When I look at where we are at this point, I feel great about our club going to spring training… I think we’re content where we are at this point.”
The Phillies head to Clearwater soon, their winter salvage complete.
