The trade for J.T. Realmuto came at a surprise to many Phillies fans, probably because of how fast the whole deal came together. Now that the dust has settled, the trade can be analyzed for all its parts.
First, we know that this is a huge upgrade offensively for the Phillies, and Realmuto seems poised for a breakout which was broken down earlier this week by John Town. However, from a defensive perspective, Realmuto is a slight downgrade from Alfaro.
When looking at defensive stats for catchers, there are three things to focus on: pitch framing, blocking, and throwing.