NY Mets: NL East rivals worth adding to the roster this winter

Sep 22, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) hits a game tying RBI single against the Washington Nationals in the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) hits a game tying RBI single against the Washington Nationals in the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 4, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

Philadelphia Phillies – J.T. Realmuto

It should come as no surprise to see J.T. Realmuto as the guy to target from the Phillies. A gold glove catcher who can hit and has some speed for a guy behind the plate is always someone to keep an eye on. With the Mets more than likely declining their team option of $10M on Wilson Ramos for the 2021 season, Realmuto is the guy to go for.

Realmuto is a guy that the Mets have lacked behind the plate for some time now. He is an all-around player, but more importantly for the Mets is that he is solid defensively. The Mets have lacked an everyday defensively sound catcher for a while, and Realmuto would be just that.

Realmuto won a gold glove in 2019 and led the league in caught stealing percentage with a whopping 47% (league average was 26%). His total zone fielding runs above average (the number of runs below or above average based on the number of plays they made) was 17 which was a career-high. 2020 was a small step backward, but still positive with 4 runs and 25% caught stealing.

On top of the great defensive that Realmuto brings, he is also a strong bat at the plate. In 2019 he slashed .275/.328/.493/.820 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI, both career highs in 593 plate appearances. He was just as good in 2020 putting up a .266/.349/.491/.840 slash line with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 195 plate appearances.

Realmuto is a guy that the Mets definitely need to and should try to steal away from the Phillies this offseason.