JT Realmuto Doesn't Seem Happy After Losing Arbitration Battle to Phillies
By Michael Luciano
The Philadelphia Phillies will pay catcher JT Realmuto $10 million in 2020 after the former Miami Marlins catcher lost an arbitration hearing for the second time in his career.
Realmuto claims that his less-than-market-value salary this season is a direct result of an archaic arbitration process, which he accused the Phillies of exploiting (within their rights) to save a few bucks and avoid breaking the bank for him.
J.T. Realmuto said the Phillies took advantage of an outdated arbitration process. The countdown to his free agency begins now. “I have no idea what’s going to happen. I can’t predict the future.”
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) February 21, 2020
Realmuto was an All-Star for the second time in his career last year, as he slammed 25 home runs while hitting .275, winning a Gold Glove, and taking home another Silver Slugger. Maybe one of the three best catchers in baseball deserves a bigger salary?
While Realmuto doesn't seem too thrilled with the organization at this juncture, the Phillies appear committed to lock down their star catcher with a contract extension. That should help smooth things over.
The Phillies are not alienating J.T Realmuto.
— Jack Fritz (@JackFritzWIP) February 20, 2020
They'll get the extension done and it'll all be okay.
Realmuto has correctly remarked that the arbitration process often does more harm than good, as it drives down player salary and pits worker and employer against one another. Hopefully some major reforms are coming to the system to prevent Realmuto (and his brethren) from getting the short end of the stick once again, after a year in which baseball's vets piled up repeated losses in the process.