If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to contend next year, they need to drastically improve their offense this offseason.
One place to start is behind the plate, where the Pirates really struggled last year. Henry Davis and Joey Bart didn’t produce as hoped, and Pittsburgh’s catchers batted just .210 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI and 172 strikeouts.
The Pirates could use an upgrade there. Fortunately, one is available this winter in J.T. Realmuto.
The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner is a free agent after completing his five-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
In his recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan, former MLB pitcher Matt Clement said Pittsburgh should target Realmuto this winter, believing he’d sign a new deal for around three years and $45 million.
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Realmuto will be 35 next year, so he should be relatively affordable. His offensive production has also fallen off lately, with his OPS declining every year since 2022.
However, he remains a solid hitter and a strong defender, contributing 2.5 WAR to the Phillies last season. He’s also a proven leader with tons of postseason experience, which would be beneficial to a young Pirates team.
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Realmuto may not want to go too far at this stage of his career, so going from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh wouldn’t be much of a move.
While he’d be an upgrade behind the dish, Realmuto is a risky signing at his age and position. Catchers don’t tend to age well, and Realmuto already has a dozen MLB seasons under his belt.
Furthermore, he bats right-handed, and the Pirates already have a righty-heavy lineup. They’d be better off acquiring a left-handed bat or someone with more power to help balance their lineup.
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Realmuto would be a solid addition, but perhaps not a smart investment for a team that needs to spend its money wisely.
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