Garrett Stubbs will be designated for assignment by the Phillies
In moving the popular backup catcher off the 40-man roster, the Phillies have a week to trade him or put him through waivers.

Garrett Stubbs’ run with the Phillies is over.
A popular backup catcher and one of the most dynamic personalities during the Phillies’ five-year run as a postseason team, Stubbs learned Thursday he will be designated for assignment.
In moving Stubbs off the 40-man roster, the Phillies have a week to trade him or put him through waivers. If he clears, the 33-year-old intends to elect free agency.
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The Phillies are aiming to lighten J.T. Realmuto’s workload behind the plate next season and get more offense from the backup catcher spot, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said recently. Stubbs and Rafael Marchán split that role this season and combined for a .316 OPS and two extra-base hits in 156 at-bats.
Stubbs backed up Realmuto since 2022, which meant seldom starting. He made only 128 starts behind the plate, including a career-high 47 in 2024, and batted .212 with seven homers and a .598 OPS. This year, he hit .153 in only 65 plate appearances.
But Stubbs’ impact went beyond the field. He was a regular attendee of the Phillies’ daily game-planning and scouting sessions with the starting pitchers, even when he wasn’t in the lineup, and caught most of their bullpen sessions.
Stubbs also helped build a winning culture through his leadership and positive energy. Known for mentoring younger players, ordering T-shirts with catchy slogans, and curating the postgame playlist, Stubbs helped set the mood.
When he arrived in a November 2021 trade with the Astros for minor-league outfielder Logan Cerny, the Phillies hadn’t made the playoffs in 10 years. They’ve since made five consecutive postseason appearances for the second time in team history.
And Stubbs was at the center of playoff-clinching celebrations — often in his pinstriped overalls.
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The Phillies also lauded Stubbs for his handling of a demotion to triple-A Lehigh Valley — “Piggyland,” as he calls it — in 2025. Several team officials suggested he would be an effective manager or coach after his playing career.
Stubbs intends to continue playing next season.
If Stubbs clears waivers, he would join free agents Alec Bohm, Luis Arraez, Edmundo Sosa, Adolis García, José Alvarado, Brooks Raley, and Nestor Cortes, all of whom hit the market Thursday with the completion of the World Series.























