What happened: Philadelphia plans to lighten J.T. Realmuto's catching load for 2027, per MLB Trade Rumors. Realmuto told Dave Dombrowski he needs to improve offensively and has felt mentally drained by added responsibilities. The club is already evaluating backup catcher options behind him for next season.

Why it matters: Realmuto remains central to Philadelphia's run prevention and lineup balance entering 2027. Less time behind the plate could help sustain production across a full season. It also defines how much playing time is available as the roster takes shape.

What to watch: Watch Philadelphia's moves to add catching depth and how spring workloads divide. That will show how far the reduction goes.