Catcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n2025 – J.T. Realmuto\/Rafael March\u00e1n<\/strong>
2026 – J.T. Realmuto\/Rafael March\u00e1n<\/strong><\/p>\nJ.T. Realmuto<\/a> remains the starter after signing a three-year, $45 million deal<\/a>. Backup catcher Rafael March\u00e1n<\/a> is rumored to be trade bait, but remains the second option alongside Garrett Stubbs<\/a>. The team was ready to move on from Realmuto if it meant adding Bichette, but that didn\u2019t happen. Now, the Gold Glove and All-MLB catcher returns to Philly as a top defensive talent, but is now lacking on the offensive side. Realmuto doesn\u2019t categorize as a liability at the plate, but his untimely grounders, pop flies, and weak contact haven\u2019t been a big help as of late. The team expects the rotation to stay mighty with their fearless leader in charge. In 2025, Realmuto tied as the league leader in innings caught while sending base runners back to the dugout as if they were getting texts from Mom, five minutes past curfew. The idea here is that the position didn\u2019t get better, or that much worse. Still, the rotation benefits the most.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26022639-300x200.jpg\")
Apr 26, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) breaks his bat on a single against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
It’s not crazy to expect J.T. to take a small step forward with a new contract and security as he nears the end of his career. Without Nick Castellanos<\/a> in the room, it should allow the leader in both Kyle and J.T. to flourish even brighter.<\/p>\n\n- Projection: Bat\/Power Decline, Elite Arm, Great+ for Inj\/Rotation, New Contract<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Verdict: Slight Downgrade with Elite\/Clutch Flashes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
First Base<\/strong><\/h3>\n2025 – Bryce Harper<\/strong>
2026 – Bryce Harper<\/strong><\/p>\nHarper<\/a> is still Harper, but the 2026 version seems to have a chip on his shoulder, especially with off-season comments from team President Dave Dombrowski stating he \u201cdoesn\u2019t know\u201d if Bryce will return to his elite form. The gritty, competitive, outgoing personality fans have come to know wasn\u2019t there in 2025. The eye-popping numbers weren\u2019t either, but deeper statistics point to sunshine and green grass moving forward.<\/p>\nMike Petriello from MLB.com says the following: \u201cNo, he didn\u2019t strike out more. He actually dropped his K rate slightly, from 22% to 21%. No, he didn\u2019t hit the ball less hard. His hard hit rate was in the 77th percentile, in line with previous years. No, his bat isn\u2019t slow now. His bat speed was identical in 2024 and 2025, in the 81st percentile. No, it wasn\u2019t \u2018bad luck.\u2019 Harper\u2019s expected stats and actual ones were close to identical. First base helps preserve his body, and his bat should age well. There may be slight fluctuation year to year, but nothing meaningful changes here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBryce Harper\u2019s former Nationals teammate Matt Adams, believes we are going to see a different Bryce this season #Phillies<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wTYzJmWex2<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Sheffield Shuffler (@SheffieldShuff) February 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
2026 – J.T. Realmuto\/Rafael March\u00e1n<\/strong><\/p>\n
J.T. Realmuto<\/a> remains the starter after signing a three-year, $45 million deal<\/a>. Backup catcher Rafael March\u00e1n<\/a> is rumored to be trade bait, but remains the second option alongside Garrett Stubbs<\/a>. The team was ready to move on from Realmuto if it meant adding Bichette, but that didn\u2019t happen. Now, the Gold Glove and All-MLB catcher returns to Philly as a top defensive talent, but is now lacking on the offensive side. Realmuto doesn\u2019t categorize as a liability at the plate, but his untimely grounders, pop flies, and weak contact haven\u2019t been a big help as of late. The team expects the rotation to stay mighty with their fearless leader in charge. In 2025, Realmuto tied as the league leader in innings caught while sending base runners back to the dugout as if they were getting texts from Mom, five minutes past curfew. The idea here is that the position didn\u2019t get better, or that much worse. Still, the rotation benefits the most.<\/p>\n \n It’s not crazy to expect J.T. to take a small step forward with a new contract and security as he nears the end of his career. Without Nick Castellanos<\/a> in the room, it should allow the leader in both Kyle and J.T. to flourish even brighter.<\/p>\n 2025 – Bryce Harper<\/strong> Harper<\/a> is still Harper, but the 2026 version seems to have a chip on his shoulder, especially with off-season comments from team President Dave Dombrowski stating he \u201cdoesn\u2019t know\u201d if Bryce will return to his elite form. The gritty, competitive, outgoing personality fans have come to know wasn\u2019t there in 2025. The eye-popping numbers weren\u2019t either, but deeper statistics point to sunshine and green grass moving forward.<\/p>\n Mike Petriello from MLB.com says the following: \u201cNo, he didn\u2019t strike out more. He actually dropped his K rate slightly, from 22% to 21%. No, he didn\u2019t hit the ball less hard. His hard hit rate was in the 77th percentile, in line with previous years. No, his bat isn\u2019t slow now. His bat speed was identical in 2024 and 2025, in the 81st percentile. No, it wasn\u2019t \u2018bad luck.\u2019 Harper\u2019s expected stats and actual ones were close to identical. First base helps preserve his body, and his bat should age well. There may be slight fluctuation year to year, but nothing meaningful changes here.\u201d<\/p>\n Bryce Harper\u2019s former Nationals teammate Matt Adams, believes we are going to see a different Bryce this season #Phillies<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wTYzJmWex2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sheffield Shuffler (@SheffieldShuff) February 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
First Base<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2026 – Bryce Harper<\/strong><\/p>\n\n