I don't think there is any chance of Realmuto being an albatross. With the way the FA market has been he's not likely to get a blockbuster deal. Five years at most (one of which is 2020). He'll be the best option for catcher for all of that time even if it becomes more a platoon situation towards the end. What he might not be is a middle-of-the-order hitter, but you never know. Chooch peaked offensively at 33 but was still more than solid as a catcher at 34 and 35. Realmuto will be 29 next season.
Someone mentioned this before but I wonder if the Phillies fully considered the fact that their two biggest newcomers might lag a little in Year One as they adjusted to a new team (for the first time in their careers, unlike Arrieta, Cutch and Segura), new city, and impending first-time fatherhood all at once (actually I don't know if JT already had kids, but Harper obviously does not).
The biggest challenge about going for the wild card is not the marginal chance it actually gives you (too easy to lose the one game, unlikely to beat LA) but assessing your chances in a four-team race (five if Arizona, which has a better run differential than the Cubs and Braves, stay in). I think this front office wants and needs to make a push, but they can also see the numbers (like our own run differential which gives us an XW-L of 48-52.
I think you can still dream on the division a little bit with so many games left against the Braves; problem is the Nats are now in the way too. It requires more luck and perfection than is likely. Somehow pick up a game over the next two days (Braves playing the Royals) and then sweep them at home and you're only 3 1/2 out. More likely best-case, though, is they'll still be 6.5 out if they merely win the Braves series, and they could even lose ground in Detroit given the road record (and the Braves being at home for their series).
It'll be interesting to see if they can make a move by Friday.
