The Philadelphia Phillies could have a new path to upgrading their roster after J.T. Realmuto acknowledged that he needs to improve offensively and could play some first base next season.
MORE: Phillies to hire former Mets coach in drastic shakeup
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark, Realmuto told president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, that he needs to get better at the plate. He also said the mental demands of catching have left him feeling drained, although he feels good physically.
Giving Realmuto more days away from the plate could help manage that workload while opening the door for Philadelphia to pursue another catcher, including Minnesota Twins backstop Ryan Jeffers.
Ryan Jeffers Could Give Phillies More Catching Flexibility
Jeffers has previously emerged as a potential target for Philadelphia. Sports Illustrated reported that the Phillies explored him as an option while considering alternatives behind the plate.
Acquiring Jeffers would likely require a trade rather than a straightforward free-agent signing, depending on his contractual status. He could give the Phillies another established catcher while allowing Realmuto to play first base occasionally or receive additional rest.
That arrangement would also give Dombrowski more flexibility when evaluating other roster needs. Rather than relying on Realmuto to handle most of the catching workload, Philadelphia could spread those responsibilities across two players and preserve options elsewhere in the lineup.
Realmuto’s offensive performance makes the possibility worth exploring. He finished the 2026 regular season with a .205 batting average, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs across 123 games.
The Phillies will need more production if they want to make another deep postseason run. Their offseason decisions will determine whether Realmuto remains the primary catcher, takes on a more flexible role or shares duties with a new addition.
Nothing indicates that a deal for Jeffers is imminent, and Realmuto’s comments do not guarantee a position change. Still, the possibility of moving him around the diamond gives Dombrowski another avenue to strengthen the roster.
If Philadelphia can reduce Realmuto’s workload while adding another productive catcher, it could improve its depth and leave the front office better positioned to pursue further upgrades this winter.
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter—