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By Aaliyan Mohammed
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Philadelphia Phillies were one of the best teams in baseball this season, but failed to win the World Series. With key players hitting free agency, some new names could be coming to Philadelphia.
Kyle Schwarber is the biggest name to watch for the Phillies in free agency, but J.T. Realmuto is also set to hit the open market. He had a down year at the plate, posting just a .700 OPS. However, he is still strong defensively. He is 34 years old and it is unclear if the Phillies are interested in signing him to another deal at the expense of not being able to afford Schwarber.
While right now Realmuto is able to catch nearly every game, if he soon needs more time as a designated hitter, it would complicate his playing time if Schwarber stays. If the Phillies let Realmuto walk, they may be wise to bring in a young, controllable catcher. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller suggested the Phillies trade for Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles.
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The Orioles recently extended catcher Sam Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million extension. Meanwhile, Rutschman, who is a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, has not received a long-term commitment.
He was an All-Star last year, but struggled at the plate this season. He also only played in 90 games, dealing with injuries. He is still a talented player, and perhaps a change of scenery could do him some good. The Orioles already have Basallo set up to be an everyday catcher if the team moves on from Rutschman.
The Phillies would have Rutschman under club control through 2027, and he would be cheaper than re-signing Realmuto. That would allow them to spend on Schwarber and other needs.
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