Despite links between them, it is reportedly considered unlikely that the Texas Rangers will sign free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto this offseason.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Texas “lacks the payroll flexibility” needed to sign Realmuto, so the organization may explore cheaper alternatives to replace Jonah Heim behind the plate, such as Danny Jansen or Victor Caratini.

Realmuto is widely regarded as the top catcher available in free agency, as the 34-year-old veteran is a three-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and two-time Gold Glove Award winner over the course of 12 MLB seasons with the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies.

During a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio, Jim Bowden of The Athletic and CBS Sports (h/t Phillies Tailgate) named the Rangers and Boston Red Sox as two teams with interest in Realmuto.

Given that Realmuto is from Oklahoma, the Rangers are the closest thing to his hometown team.

He would also fill a massive area of need for Texas since the organization decided to non-tender Heim after the one-time All-Star and one-time World Series champion spent the past four seasons as the Rangers’ primary catcher.

Realmuto was once a big-time offensive contributor from the catcher position, finishing with at least 20 home runs and 70 RBI in four of five seasons from 2018 to 2022. The lone exception during that stretch was the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

After finishing with 20 homers and 63 RBI in 2023, Realmuto’s counting stats took a hit the past two seasons.

In 2024, he slashed .266/.322/.429 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI, and he followed that up last season with a slash line of .257/.315/.384 to go along with 12 homers and 52 RBI.

Realmuto was spectacular in the four playoff games he appeared in this past season, though, slashing .353/.353/.765 with one home run, three RBI and three runs scored.

The Rangers already made one big move this offseason, sending second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets in exchange for Brandon Nimmo.

That gives the Rangers a promising top of their batting order with Nimmo, Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager, and Realmuto would be a nice supplemental piece as a career .270 hitter.

However, with the Rangers reportedly unwilling to pay big money in free agency, Realmuto may have to explore other options, including a potential return to Philadelphia.