The Phillies announced Friday that they have acquired catcher Garrett Stubbs from the Astros in exchange for minor league outfielder Logan Cerny. Stubbs becomes the second backup catching option acquired by the Phils tonight, who also added minor league backstop Donny Sands in a trade with the Yankees.
Stubbs, 28, has spent parts of three seasons in the Majors with the ’Stros, hitting at a combined .182/.238/.247 clip — albeit through a tiny sample of 87 plate appearances. It’s obviously not an impressive line, but Stubbs has a far better track record in Triple-A, where he hit .265/.418/.363 this season and carries a career-long line of .272/.369/.404 in parts of four seasons.
The Phils obviously don’t have a need for a starting catcher, not with J.T. Realmuto entering the second season of a five-year contract, but Stubbs will join Sands as a backup option. The former eighth-rounder has a strong defensive reputation, having posted a massive 41% caught-stealing rate in his pro career and strong framing rates (via Baseball Prospectus) throughout his minor league tenure. Stubbs also has a minor league option remaining, giving the Phils some flexibility if they choose to acquire a more established backup option to Realmuto. That said, Stubbs seems plenty capable of filling a backup role — he just hasn’t had the opportunity in recent seasons with the Astros leaning heavily on Martin Maldonado and Jason Castro.
As was the case in the Phillies’ trade with the Yankees, they tapped into their recent draft class to add some depth options rather than dealing more experienced farmhands from a thin minor league system. It’s not a bad strategy in moderation, particularly given that all of the players acquired in today’s pair of deals — Stubbs, Sands and righty Nick Nelson — can both be immediate depth options and be controlled for several years.
Cerny, 22, obviously isn’t one of the Phils’ top prospects given his status as a recent 10th-round pick, but he turned in a .291/.377/.529 in three seasons at Troy University. He hit .200/.349/.286 in 43 pro plate appearances following the draft.
Never heard of him. Any good? Phillies need a lot of change to be relevant.
If I recall, he’s a backup catcher type.
Backup catcher with speed and left handed bat. Wish Astros had utilized him more but I’m sure their staff knows more than me
Stubbs is one of my favorites but I have posted that they needed to trade him if they were not going to use him. He got the Johnny Bench award for best college catcher in his senior year.
He is a top defensive catcher. He hits alright in the minors, but needs to prove himself in the bigs. He would be starting for a few clubs.
They replaced Knapp with Stubbs
Rub a dub dub, thanks for the Stubb.
Marchan is going somewhere else in a Dave Dombrowski deal.
Tried to move him last year to Pittsburgh but it fell through.I agree Marchan is going to be a piece in a bigger trade.
Average player. Not a good hitter and decent receiver. Good arm though.
So your typical backup catcher…
Not real typical, he can play a decent infield too.
Yes he is a backup catcher but not typical.
Very very strong fundamental player who excels as a reviever and can flat throw. Reminds me of Brad Ausmus.
Excellent speed. Can be used as a pinch runner and can play 2B and LF.
Very weak bat though. He can bunt.
dunno about this one. I like Cerny.
Agreed. Cerny was in my top 3 picks this past year for the Phils. While there’s a good chance he won’t ever make the majors. Giving up any lottery tickets for an at best, a backup catcher with an option left. The Phils could have easily filled the backup C role with a veteran FA or someone on a milb deal. Plus with the acquisition of Sands, it feels like a redundant move. Especially with the emergence of O’Hoppe. Hopefully it works out
Stubbs can also play second base and the outfield. He’s a small guy but he’s very good on the bases, especially for a catcher. I don’t know anything about the guy that the Astros are getting in return but it’s definitely a “meh” type of deal.
backend of the Phillies 30. I think there’s something there.
Astros cleared a roster spot for Verlander
Yep. They got a “lottery ticket” in addition to making room for JV.
As long as Knapp is gone, who cares.
Hard to find a player with worse stats than Knapp. Good sleuthing DD.
Rhys Hoskins not in the deal?
Did you mean, “Why’s Hoskins not in the deal?”?
Rhys is living rent free in your head, isn’t he bro?
yeah I dont get the obsession
As an Astros fan I’m not going to miss Stubbs and his automatic out status as a hitter. He is a pretty good catcher though. He has a tremendous arm. Hope he gets an opportunity to be a backup with Philly.
I’d give him more than 87 PAs before I label him an automatic out.
That’s fair. Hopefully he gets better results with more opportunities.
Like Maldy isn’t? Stubbs had to move because of Korey Lee.
Tidy bit of business by the Phillies to add two controllable catching options here. I like it. Have always liked both Sands and Stubbs, and with Stubbs already 28, he’s ready for more than just a cup of coffee. Maybe he’s Tony Wolters and is playable in short sports for a couple years, or maybe he’s Brent Mayne and he has a lot of longevity as a 300-AB catcher.
Stubbs was a contact-type hitter in AAA, hit around .270 every year, and if given enough at-bats might hit .230-.250 in the big leagues. His strength is his defense, both pitch framing and throwing out runners. He’ll be a good backup for Realmuto. Just not enough room on Stros roster, as Maldonado, Castro, 1st round pick Korey Lee (from 2019 draft) and Astros minor league player of the year Luke Berryhill are some of catchers ahead of him.
I expected Stubbs to be dealt. He’s got some value, but Dusty had no use for him. I could see him becoming the next Max Stassi.
He walked in about 1/4 of his plate appearances in AAA this year and has a good career ratio of bb/so. Toss in the defence, versatility, left-handed bat, and speed and he looks like a very serviceable backup.
This is a guy I’ve wanted the Mets to go after for years. Good move by Phillie.
I thought catcher was the one position where the Phillies were deep.
When he bats less than .200 while getting the same minimal playing time Knapp got, the same people who whined and cried about Knapp will be whining and crying just as loud about Stubbs
no. Knapp had a history.
Nothing for nothing
I think DD is making these moves for a potential trade. A Marchan + more trade can warrant a pretty big return. We’ll see.