Philly has called to re-sign a free agent and it’s not Kyle Schwarber

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ season came to an abrupt end when the team lost the NLDS due to an Orion Kerkering error. Now, Philadelphia faces significant roster changes as the team must decide how to move forward with its aging lineup.

Kyle Schwarber is the Phillies’ top priority in free agency. The veteran DH finished second in NL MVP voting after a monster season. However, one MLB insider believes the team should focus on returning JT Realmuto.

“With a weak catching market and no replacement behind the plate waiting in the wings, Philly must re-sign Realmut, who is by far the best catcher available despite his age and offensive decline,” wrote MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

Phillies face JT Realmute, Kyle Schwarber, free agency issues

Realmuto had a down year offensively in 2025, with 12 home runs, 52 RBI, 57 runs scored, 91 OPS+ and 2.5 bVAR in 134 games. However, the two-time Gold Glove winner remained a solid defender behind the plate. And Realmuto expertly led a talented Phillies team.

However, several teams could be interested in Realmut this offseason. And it’s unclear whether Philadelphia will fight to bring the veteran catcher back to a new deal. The Phillies are facing a slump after another early playoff exit. The team won the division and was eliminated in the NLDS in consecutive seasons.

Additionally, Realmuto isn’t the only player the Phillies could lose in free agency. Schwarber has elevated his offensive production in 2025 and will certainly have a number of suitors for his services. The 11-year veteran led the majors with 132 RBI and topped the National League with 56 home runs. He finished as the runner-up in the MVP race behind Shohei Ohtani, who won the award for the fourth time.

Bryce Harper wants both players to re-sign with the Phillies. But it remains unclear how the team will approach this crucial offseason. Realmuto has been in Philly since 2019, and Schwarber joined in 2022. Much of the Phillies’ identity revolves around these two players and Harper. It will be interesting to see how Philly responds after another heartbreaking postseason.