Roundup
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals
New York Mets
Phillies to ease Realmuto’s workload, NL East roundup
No games in the NL East, but the Phillies are already planning to scale back J.T. Realmuto’s catching workload while the Nationals and Mets make quieter headlines.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
There were no NL East games on the schedule, but it was still a news day for roster planning and trade chatter, with the Phillies, Nationals and Mets all involved.
Phillies looking to scale back J.T. Realmuto’s catching load
In Philadelphia, the Phillies (88-74) are planning to cut back on J.T. Realmuto’s workload behind the plate, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The veteran catcher has long been one of the league’s most durable backstops, and that has carried into his mid-30s.
MLB Trade Rumors notes that Realmuto leads the Majors with 613 games started at catcher since 2022. He has started 122 games behind the plate this year, edging Brewers catcher William Contreras by one start for the MLB lead. Against that backdrop, the Phillies are now expected to be more conservative with how often they use Realmuto at catcher, likely building in more rest or time at other positions as they think about his long-term usage.
Nationals’ Jacob Young has drawn Yankees interest
In Washington, where the Nationals finished 77-85, one of their young outfielders is on the radar of a high-profile contender. As relayed by MLB Trade Rumors, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees have shown past interest in center fielder Jacob Young.
It’s not clear whether that interest ever progressed to formal trade talks or remained due diligence on New York’s part. MLB Trade Rumors points out that the Nationals were known to be exploring a possible Young trade, making him a name to watch as Washington weighs how aggressively to reshape its roster.
Mets players among latest minor league free agents
For the New York Mets (74-88), the news is at the margins of the roster. MLB Trade Rumors reports that five players who reached the Majors this year have elected minor league free agency after being outrighted off 40-man rosters and accruing seven or more minor league seasons.
Some of those players are tied to the Mets, underscoring the quiet but constant churn of organizational depth that marks the early offseason. While largely procedural, these moves hint at further adjustments to come as the Mets retool the lower rungs of their depth chart before spring training.