Bryce Harper's Confident Comment About JT Realmuto Staying in Philly Should Put Fans at Ease
By Brendan Balsamo
The Philadelphia Phillies made a splash last offseason by trading for All-Star catcher JT Realmuto. With the team in 2019, Realmuto had a fantastic 4.5 WAR with a .275 batting average, 25 home runs, 83 RBI, and 92 runs scored. 2020, however, is the final year of his contract, so his future with the Phillies is uncertain.
Philly fans don't need to fear, though, as outfielder Bryce Harper is confident they'll retain Realmuto when his free agency arrives.
Worried the Phillies will lose J.T. Realmuto to free agency? Bryce Harper isn’t. “I don’t think anybody should fear us not getting J.T. back.” https://t.co/U8TJZG920i
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) April 6, 2020
Rumors have been circulating around Realmuto signing an extension with the Phillies for months now, but the current coronavirus pandemic that has put sports on hold has also halted teams from negotiating contract extensions with players. With the new service time rules being implemented, even if the 2020 MLB season doesn't happen, Realmuto will still be a free agent by season's end. Phillies fans are rightfully worried about how much time they have left with their All-Star catcher.
Harper's comments should ease the fans a bit, though. He's signed with the team until 2031, so the team is likely going to do whatever they can to please their $330 million man.
Bryce Harper, like all of us, is waiting it out to see when baseball will be played again.
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 6, 2020
But when the sport resumes, he's pretty confident Realmuto will be around for awhile, writes @JSalisburyNBCS. https://t.co/N6K3j15A69
The Phillies are a scary team in 2020, and if they lock down Realmuto like Harper thinks they will, they'll be scary for years to come.