The Philadelphia Phillies and catcher J.T. Realmuto agreed to a record-setting five-year, $115.5 million deal, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
Once signed, the contract will be the largest ever in terms of annual average value for a catcher at $23.1 million. Joe Mauer earned $23 million a year on average on his eight-year, $184 million deal that ended in 2018 with the Minnesota Twins.
Realmuto, 29, was traded to the Phillies before the 2019 by the Miami Marlins and signed a one-year, $10 million extension with the team before the 2020 season.
A two-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner, Realmuto appeared in 47 games last season, hitting .266 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. He threw out 25 percent of runners attempting to steal a base — five of 20 — down from 46.7 percent in 2019.
In his career, Realmuto is a .278 hitter with 95 home runs, 156 doubles and 358 RBIs in 732 career games.
(Field Level Media)
