Philadelphia Phillies: 4 players impacted by a missed season
As I discussed a few weeks back, there is a non-zero chance that J.T. Realmuto has already played his last game in a Phillies uniform. Nothing seems to be set in stone anymore, not in the world of sports at least, and so you can’t just assume that the Phillies will be able to lock down their all-star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger catcher. And that would be a crippling blow when you consider what the Phillies gave up to get him.
Strangely, Realmuto the player might actually benefit from an entire season off. He has been ridden hard for five straight years, appearing in an average of 135 games a season, which is a ton of wear and tear on a catcher. Having just turned 29, he’s also in his athletic prime, but he seems like the kind of gifted athlete who can keep it up well into his 30’s even while playing baseball’s most demanding position. So, oddly, a full season of recuperation might be just what the doctor ordered, and it could give Realmuto an even better shot of excelling in his 30’s.
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As for the Phillies, this could spell disaster. They absolutely, positively have to lock him up, and that will require giving him whatever he wants, especially after their arbitration decision with him left a sour taste in Realmuto’s mouth. It would be in the Phils’ best interest to get on the field in 2020 and at least get something out of their talented catcher before he walks after the year, which is very possible at this point in time.