Section 215
Fansided

3 ways the Philadelphia Phillies can save their 2020 season

By David Esser

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - AUGUST 20: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammate J.T. Realmuto #10 after hitting a one run home run during the first inning of game one of a double header against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field on August 20, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - AUGUST 20: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammate J.T. Realmuto #10 after hitting a one run home run during the first inning of game one of a double header against the Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field on August 20, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 14: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies jogs home after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning during a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 14, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-5. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 14: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies jogs home after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning during a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 14, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-5. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Re-signing JT Realmuto.

This one goes without saying, but at the very least the Phillies need to be walking away from 2020 with JT Realmuto locked up for the foreseeable future.

This move should have been made prior to the season even starting, but now Realmuto has backed the Phillies front office into a corner with his stellar play. The 2x All-Star Catcher has improved his game at almost every single level in 2020, as he’s completely secured the “Best Catcher in Baseball” title.

Regardless of if the Phillies make the postseason or not this year, extending Realmuto at least keeps them competitive for the foreseeable future. He’s formed an elite partnership with Bryce Harper in the middle of the order, and his presence behind the plate could help lure in potential free agent pitchers as well.

Exiting 2020 with a core of Harper, Realmuto, Aaron Nola, and Zack Wheeler all locked up for multiple seasons is definitely promising. It’s a playoff-caliber group of guys that Joe Girardi can feel confident about moving forward, and with a new general manager hopefully entering the building soon, it’s a group that you should be able to build a championship contender around as well.

The Phillies could lose their next 10 straight, but if it means Realmuto gets a five-year extension, I think most Phillies fans would be okay with that.

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