Masked Man Only Gets $10 Million

Well, the arbitrator has spoken and I hope Phillies management is happy. Catcher JT Realmuto lost his arbitration hearing, and will be paid $10 million for the 2020 season, not the $12.4 million he was looking for.

Now the Phils will try to sign Realmuto to a long-term contract. Good luck with that. Even though Realmuto said all the right things going into the hearing, there has to be a bit of a bad taste after losing. How anxious will he be to sign with the team that decided to fight him over $2.4 million, which is chump change by MLB standards. Team owner John Middleton probably has that much in loose change in the sofas on his private jet.

I really, really hope the Phils didn't blow this by taking the case to arbitration and winning it. Realmuto's price has automatically gone up by losing. The Phils have ZERO catching depth in the organization. If Realmuto decides to go to free agency, the Phils are royally screwed. Starting catcher Andrew Knapp is not something I want to read about in 2021.