JT Realmuto expected to seek record salary for catcher

After losing his arbitration case against the Philadelphia Phillies, JT Realmuto is already looking ahead to his free agency next winter.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Thursday that the two-time All-Star is expected to seek a record salary for a catcher (exceeding Joe Mauer’s $23 million) and “quite possibly” a seven-year deal when he becomes a free agent.

Realmuto, 28, is perhaps the game’s best backstop right now as an elite defensive catcher with some major pop as well (25 home runs and 83 RBIs in 2019). He failed to secure his request of $12.4 million from the Phillies this season but is still getting a nice raise from $6.05 million to $10 million.

Realmuto also brings plenty by way of highlights, and he may soon be surpassing Buster Posey as the game’s highest-paid catcher.