Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto understands higher than nearly anybody what awaits Willson Contreras within the offseason.
Barring a last-minute contract extension, the Chicago Cubs are anticipated to commerce Contreras, an impending free agent, earlier than the Aug. 2 deadline. It units up the Cubs catcher to hit free company in about three months.
As Realmuto went into his closing arbitration yr in 2020 with the Phillies, he made clear he needed to maneuver the free-agent market ahead with no matter deal he signed on the open market. In January 2021, Realmuto signed a five-year, $115.5 million contract two months earlier than his thirtieth birthday.
Realmuto’s $23.1 million annual-average worth set a brand new excessive for catchers. He additionally grew to become the third catcher to signal a nine-figure deal, becoming a member of Joe Mauer and Buster Posey, and the third to earn an AAV above $21 million (Mauer and Yadier Molina).
“You always want to try your best to help out the next generation of guys coming through, and I was able to move the bar a little bit,” Realmuto informed the Tribune on Friday of his free-agent deal. “Hopefully Willson continues to have a great season and he can improve on that bar for the guys coming behind him. Just something we take pride in to continue to look out for the next generation.”
All of those contract markers lay the groundwork for what Contreras, who turns 31 in May, may search in free company this offseason.
Since Contreras debuted on June 17, 2016, he’s second amongst catchers in slugging share (.458), third in residence runs (109), fourth in RBIs (345) and plate appearances (2,711) and sixth in on-base share (.351). His 114 OPS+ trails solely Will Smith, Yasmani Grandal and Posey. Contreras additionally ranks third within the National League and sixth in MLB in innings caught throughout that span. Realmuto and Molina maintain the top-two spots.
Contreras’ solo residence run within the fourth inning Friday, his 14th of the season, tied the sport in opposition to the Phillies within the first recreation after the All-Star break.
“He’s taken another step this year,” Realmuto mentioned. “Offensively he’s been as consistent as you can be as a catcher, so he’s been a lot of fun to watch. I’m interested to see how he finishes the year out and see where he goes next year.”
Realmuto believes the notion of offensive catchers has modified due to the addition of the designated hitter within the National League. The DH spot offers catchers extra alternatives to keep up contemporary legs whereas maintaining their bat within the lineup. Of Contreras’ 77 begins, 29 have come because the DH.
“That’s a way catchers could get compensated more than we have in the past,” Realmuto mentioned. “He’s going to stay fresh longer than most guys would be able to just because he didn’t grow up catching from the time he was 6 years old. There’s a little less wear and tear on his knees and legs.”
Realmuto’s free-agent scenario final yr will seemingly differ in a single notable facet. The Phillies didn’t commerce him earlier than he examined free company, ultimately re-signing him three months after the 2020 season. In the shortened season, the Phillies have been within the playoff hunt and in the end completed one recreation out of creating the postseason.
Looking again, Realmuto sounded uncertain whether or not getting traded would have affected his probabilities or need to return to Philadelphia.
“As a player, if my team wasn’t winning and they said, ‘Hey, we want to trade you to a team that’s competing so you can go try to have a chance to win this year, but we want to sign you back in the offseason,’ I would actually respect that,” Realmuto mentioned. “I would appreciate the fact that they want to give me a chance to get to the postseason and would still like me enough to want to bring me back the next year.”
In Contreras’ case, a looming commerce seemingly spells the top of his Cubs profession. An offseason reunion as soon as Contreras gauges his free-agent market appears inconceivable. If the Cubs spend on a big-money contract, different huge names might be accessible to handle roster wants, most notably pitchers and shortstops.
Realmuto has one piece of recommendation for Contreras when he formally turns into a free agent: Stay affected person.
“You feel like when you get there you’re like, ‘All right, we’re here, free agency starts today. It’s going to be fast and wild,’ and it’s not always the case,” Realmuto mentioned. “It doesn’t happen as fast as you would hope it would. But once things start moving, it gets fast. It’s everything you would expect it to be. It just happens a little later than then most guys expect.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com