The Phillies are going to start the season with Rafael Marchán as J.T. Realmuto‘s backup catcher. That will squeeze out Garrett Stubbs. Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Phils will try to trade Stubbs to another club before Opening Day rosters need to be set on Wednesday.
Realmuto has taken the majority of the playing time behind the plate in Philadelphia for seven seasons now. He became a free agent after last year’s campaign but re-signed with the Phils on a new three-year deal.
Stubbs and Marchán have both served as his backup in recent years, often with the other getting regular playing time in the minors. Marchán exhausted his final option season in 2024 and Stubbs exhausted his final option last year. Going into 2026, push would have to come to shove if all three were healthy at the end of camp.
If seems that the Phils will keep Marchán going forward, which is understandable. He is 27 years old, whereas Stubbs will turn 33 in May. Marchán also comes with an extra year of club control, as he can be retained through 2028, while Stubbs is slated for free agency after 2027. Marchán has also fared better with the bat, with a .245/.308/.394 line and 93 wRC+ in his career, compared to a .215/.293/.310 line and 70 wRC+ for Stubbs. Marchán’s defense also grades out a bit better than Stubbs.
The Phils will see if there’s another club out there in need of catching help with interest in Stubbs. Market forces might be working against them as Stubbs isn’t the only out-of-options catcher available right now. The Twins are shopping Alex Jackson. The White Sox aren’t going to roster Korey Lee, so he should be available as well. It seems like Andrew Knizner might get cut loose by the Mariners. The Mets will probably have to put Ben Rortvedt on waivers this week.
It’s possible that Stubbs ends up on waivers and sticks with the Phils in a non-roster capacity. As a player with at least three years of big league service time, Stubbs would have the right to elect free agency after clearing outright waivers. However, since his service clock is under five years, he would have to forfeit his remaining salary commitments by heading to the open market.
Stubbs and the Phils avoided arbitration in November by agreeing to a deal that pays him $925K in the majors and $575K in the minors. That latter figure is pretty close to the major league minimum, which will be $780K this year, and well north of the $36K Triple-A minimum. Given the numbers on that deal, it seems there would be a decent chance he sticks around in the event he clears waivers. If he does end up elsewhere, the top depth options for the Phils will be Mark Kolozsvary and René Pinto, who have both been signed to minor league deals.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Dyer, Imagn Images
Better than shopping Lane Bryant
I would much rather have Franklyn Stubbs.
Or Joannie Stubbs aka Kim Dickens in Deadwood. Not too shabby!
Finally, a way to get the GOAT Cash Considerations back in the building.
PTBNL
Can he even get a PTBNL?
More like the Phillies will be releasing Stubbs. AAA player.
Well they could play him at AAA then. Someone has to do it or they’ll be walking back to backstop for the ball all night and the games will take forever.
That’s how Bob Uecker said he caught the knuckle ball. By watching it roll to the backstop and picking it up.
Will they just make the dude a coach. That’s what he’s doing. He’s chilling with people, getting their minds right, practicing with them. Just do it
Or, they could put Stubbs in the role of the new Philly Phanatic best friend. Since the Phanatic’s current friend is getting up in years and may be close to retiring. Though, Stubbs may need stilts to fill that role.
Best idea in these comments. Stubbs is a pure clown.
He’d be a great Phanatics best friend.
Shopping who’s trading for this guy? Phillies always overvaluing their players like trying to get Mason Miller for Bohm
This is just an opinion, but unless another club claims him which is highly unlikely for that money, I would just hope he goes unclaimed and then comes back to the Phillies as depth in AAA. He is still excellent defensively but just can’t hit. René Pinto would be a decent number four guy. He’s also a great leader for the young kids.
The same could and should be said for most of these names, except if a team has more than one youngster who needs to develop. Catchers get hurt a lot, and the third guy plays on most teams.
I can’t believe Stubbs is already 33!!! How did that happen?
Death is but a door. Time is but a window.
I would really hope this doesn’t end up happening. He’s pretty good defensively and from all accounts is an amazing clubhouse guy that everyone loves. Wouldn’t mind seeing him coach in some capacity
Lots of terrible hitting Catchers become available at the end of camp. No wonder Thaiss didn’t exercise his opt-out with the Sox
Centerpiece for a Skubal trade?
Go back to your fantasy baseball league. LOL j/k I got your sarcasm joke.
Does anyone else get the feeling the Phillies should just put their no longer wanted players along the curb with a sign on them “FREE”?
He’ll ride out one more year in the minors at that salary, and then be hired as a coach at some level by the organization.
That’s a pretty nice contract for AAA.
Unless somebody grabs him, he’s back with the Iron Pigs.
Seems like we waited a little too long for this lol a few days before final rosters for opening day? Seems unlikely that they couldn’t move a catcher all offseason. Everyone always needs catching help
Id fire Rob Thomson immediately either way and name Stubby our new manager where I can see him making a real difference.as opposed to that stiff that stiff idiot they keep extending despite being knocked out of the playoffs and getting to a lesser place each year for the last 4 years. I do like Johnny Mids. Hate Thomson and Dum Bro
Stubbs has value to the Phillies as AAA depth since he already knows the pitchers. I don’t think he has trade value to another team, so he winds up back with the Ironpigs.