Harper: Betts' deal shows Phillies can afford to extend Realmuto during pandemic
When Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a 12-year, $365-million contract extension on Wednesday, Bryce Harper took notice.
The Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, who is in the second season of a 13-year, $330-million contract, has been clamoring for his team's front office to extend J.T Realmuto since April.
"I think the (Betts) deal just goes to show that teams can still afford players at this moment and in this trying time of COVID," Harper said, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
With Betts off the market, Realmuto is expected to be one of the top free agents available at the end of this season.
The catcher's agent and the Phillies have reportedly been in contact about a possible extension, but nothing has come to fruition yet.
In March, the 29-year-old Realmuto was reportedly seeking a contract similar to the $130-million deal of St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. However, now it appears like Realmuto's goal is to clear the bar for catcher contracts set by Joe Mauer's eight-year deal with the Twins that paid him $23 million annually between 2011-18, according to Salisbury.
Even though Realmuto has said he doesn't want to discuss his contract status, that isn't stopping Harper from supporting his teammate.
"I think he's the best catcher in baseball, a great player, a great individual that we need in our clubhouse as a leader and as a person and hopefully we can get that deal done and he can be in red pinstripes for the rest of his career," Harper added.
Since debuting with the Miami Marlins in 2014, Realmuto owns a .278/.327/.452 slash line with 84 home runs, 150 doubles, and 326 RBIs.