Breaking News: Phillies Confirm To Cut Ties With $400 Million 27 Years Old Outfielder After A Shock Statement

Breaking News: Phillies Confirm To Cut Ties With $400 Million 27 Years Old Outfielder After A Shock Statement

2 contract situations Phillies fans might’ve forgotten about for 2026 and beyond

There is plenty of anxiety about what the Philadelphia Phillies will be able to do in free agency this offseason. They’ll still have a payroll somewhere around $300 million, but how they spend that money remains to be seen.

On top of their guaranteed contracts and possible free agent signings, the Phillies do have other money tied up in contract deferrals that could have easily been forgotten about. Two former Phillies are in line to collect deferred money over the coming years.

There is plenty of anxiety about what the Philadelphia Phillies will be able to do in free agency this offseason. They’ll still have a payroll somewhere around $300 million, but how they spend that money remains to be seen.

On top of their guaranteed contracts and possible free agent signings, the Phillies do have other money tied up in contract deferrals that could have easily been forgotten about. Two former Phillies are in line to collect deferred money over the coming years.

Deferrals have been a hot topic in recent offseasons, thanks primarily to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Luckily, the Phillies’ allocated money is not so much that it will greatly affect their ability to spend on their current roster. As another bonus, deferred money doesn’t count toward the luxury tax payroll.

2 former Phillies players who are still owed deferred salary after 2025
J.T. Realmuto, $10 million deferred salary
J.T. Realmuto is an interesting case. Even though he’s technically not a Phillie right now, there’s every chance that he re-signs this winter. The team has at least told everyone that he’s one of their priorities.

But even if Realmuto signs elsewhere, the Phillies still owe him $10 million in deferred salary. The veteran backstop is due $5 million in 2026 and 2027, per Spotrac (subscription required). Those deferred salaries came as part of the five-year, $115.5 million deal he re-signed for in 2021.

Realmuto, who will turn 35 before Opening Day, is coming off his worst offensive season with the Phillies, but he provided plenty of value in the first few years of the deal. In the five seasons of the contract, he posted a .262 batting average and a .763 OPS (109 OPS+) with 85 home runs and 319 RBIs in 641 games. Plus, his value behind the plate and handling of the pitching staff remain second to none.

Didi Gregorius, $2 million deferred salary
Remember Didi Gregorius? Despite not playing since the Phillies released him in August 2022, his $2 million deferred payment on Feb. 1 next year will be the final chapter in his part of Phillies history. It will be the fourth and final $2 million payment of the $8 million deferred from his second Phillies contract.

After signing a one-year, $14 million deal (prorated to $5.8 million), Gregorius impressed during the shortened 2020 season. He hit .284 with an .827 OPS, with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs while playing in all 60 games. That led the Phillies to ink the shortstop to a two-year, $28 million deal in 2021.

They got very creative with the contract after the pandemic season with money being tight. It wasn’t a great result and turned out to be one of the worst free agent contracts of Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s current tenure. Gregorius hit just .210 with a .613 OPS, 14 home runs and 73 RBIs in his season and a half before being cut loose.

 

There is plenty of anxiety about what the Philadelphia Phillies will be able to do in free agency this offseason. They’ll still have a payroll somewhere around $300 million, but how they spend that money remains to be seen.

On top of their guaranteed contracts and possible free agent signings, the Phillies do have other money tied up in contract deferrals that could have easily been forgotten about. Two former Phillies are in line to collect deferred money over the coming years.

Deferrals have been a hot topic in recent offseasons, thanks primarily to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Luckily, the Phillies’ allocated money is not so much that it will greatly affect their ability to spend on their current roster. As another bonus, deferred money doesn’t count toward the luxury tax payroll.

2 former Phillies players who are still owed deferred salary after 2025
J.T. Realmuto, $10 million deferred salary
J.T. Realmuto is an interesting case. Even though he’s technically not a Phillie right now, there’s every chance that he re-signs this winter. The team has at least told everyone that he’s one of their priorities.

But even if Realmuto signs elsewhere, the Phillies still owe him $10 million in deferred salary. The veteran backstop is due $5 million in 2026 and 2027, per Spotrac (subscription required). Those deferred salaries came as part of the five-year, $115.5 million deal he re-signed for in 2021.

Realmuto, who will turn 35 before Opening Day, is coming off his worst offensive season with the Phillies, but he provided plenty of value in the first few years of the deal. In the five seasons of the contract, he posted a .262 batting average and a .763 OPS (109 OPS+) with 85 home runs and 319 RBIs in 641 games. Plus, his value behind the plate and handling of the pitching staff remain second to none.

Didi Gregorius, $2 million deferred salary
Remember Didi Gregorius? Despite not playing since the Phillies released him in August 2022, his $2 million deferred payment on Feb. 1 next year will be the final chapter in his part of Phillies history. It will be the fourth and final $2 million payment of the $8 million deferred from his second Phillies contract.

After signing a one-year, $14 million deal (prorated to $5.8 million), Gregorius impressed during the shortened 2020 season. He hit .284 with an .827 OPS, with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs while playing in all 60 games. That led the Phillies to ink the shortstop to a two-year, $28 million deal in 2021.

They got very creative with the contract after the pandemic season with money being tight. It wasn’t a great result and turned out to be one of the worst free agent contracts of Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s current tenure. Gregorius hit just .210 with a .613 OPS, 14 home runs and 73 RBIs in his season and a half before being cut loose.

He bounced to the Seattle Mariners before retiring from MLB, although he’s still playing. At age 35, Gregorius just finished his third season in the Mexican League.