J.T. Realmuto reportedly plans to decline qualifying offer

In an expected development, J.T. Realmuto is planning to decline the one-year/$18.9 million qualifying offer that the Philadelphia Phillies extended to him last Sunday, Jon Heyman of RADIO.COM reports.

J.T. Realmuto is a free agent. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)Realmuto declining the qualifying offer means that if he leaves in free agency, the Phillies will recoup draft compensation.

Of course, the Phillies still hope to re-sign the two-time All-Star catcher. President Andy MacPhail said last week that the Phillies and Realmuto “weren’t able to find anything approaching common ground” in past extension discussions, but also sounded cautiously optimistic when asked if he feels good…