The Philadelphia Phillies spent the first couple months of this season looking like a team that forgot how to win. They dug themselves a hole that felt terminal at times. But since interim manager Don Mattingly took over, something clicked. The Phillies are 52-43 now and sitting 3.5 games back of the Braves in the NL East. They’re in position for at least a Wild Card spot and maybe more.
Dave Dombrowski is not a guy who sits on his hands. The man has traded for Mike Piazza, Miguel Cabrera, David Price, Chris Sale. He’s aggressive and he’s creative. That’s great news for Phillies fans who want to see upgrades. But there’s one line even Dombrowski should not cross.
J.T. Realmuto is not a trade chip. Full stop.
Realmuto’s numbers this year are ugly. He’s slashing .199/.281/.335 with 7 home runs and 28 RBI. That’s not what you pay a catcher to do. But trading him would be a mistake that goes beyond the stat sheet. Realmuto is 34 years old and has been the anchor behind the plate for 13 seasons, eight of them in Philadelphia. His defense is still sharp. He calls a game as well as anyone. And the pitchers trust him completely.
His teammates also know he shows up in October. Last postseason he hit .353 with a home run and a triple. He has seven career postseason homers in 38 games. That kind of track record matters when you’re trying to get through the Braves, Cubs, Brewers and the two-time defending champion Dodgers. The National League is a minefield and Realmuto has walked through it before.
There’s also no good reason to assume he stays cold at the plate. He hasn’t hit below .252 in any of the last 11 seasons. He’s not suddenly cooked. He’s in a slump and slumps end. The Phillies would be selling low on a leader who has been the heart of the team for years. You don’t do that unless you’re rebuilding and the Phillies are not rebuilding.
Where the Phillies actually need to upgrade
The outfield is the problem. On Friday against the Tigers, the Phillies started Brandon Marsh, Gabriel Rincones and Derek Hill. Marsh is having a great year — .307/.342/.502 with 15 homers and 46 RBI. The other two guys are not established big leaguers. Regular right fielder Adolis Garcia is done for the season after tearing his right lat. Center fielder Justin Crawford is dealing with left knee soreness and has only 2 home runs in 266 at-bats. Even when he’s healthy, he’s not providing power.
The Phillies need a bat. Candidates include Jung Hoo Lee from the Giants, Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs, Mickey Moniak from the Rockies and Taylor Ward from the Orioles. Byron Buxton would be the dream target — 25 homers and 45 RBI this year — but his knee is banged up and he might miss games down the stretch.
Suzuki is probably the hardest get since the Cubs are in a Wild Card race and he’s one of their best hitters with 15 homers and 47 RBI. But Dombrowski has made crazier deals work before. He’s got pitching to offer and he’s not afraid to make the call. The Phillies just need to make sure they don’t trade the wrong guy while they’re at it.
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