Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs could be facing a surprising Opening Day roster decision, fresh off his second World Baseball Classic run.
The Phillies have not announced their final Opening Day roster yet, with competition still ongoing for the backup role behind starter J.T. Realmuto.
Stubbs, a seven-year MLB veteran, on Friday said he would be “willing to do anything to be on the team and in the lineup,” as he surprisingly appeared to fall behind in the backup catcher competition with Rafael Marchán, who has played just 43 major league games in nine seasons.
Stubbs, who at the University of Southern California won the 2015 Johnny Bench Award as the nation’s top college catcher, was already working on ground balls in the infield, as well as taking outfield reps, before he left spring training to catch for Team Israel in the WBC. Stubbs also played for Team Israel in the 2023 WBC.
But that may not be enough for Stubbs to win an Opening Day roster spot, and because the 32-year-old from Del Mar, California, has exhausted his minor league options, the Phillies would be forced to designate Stubbs for assignment, meaning he could choose to become a free agent, or accept a return to Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he played 71 games last year.
Expert Analyst Projects Stubbs Roster Cut
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that he has not made a decision yet on Stubbs’ Opening Day status, and that the final choice between Stubbs and Marchán will be a “tough call,” but he hinted to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Marchán may have the edge because he is both younger — by one year — and a switch-hitter.
In making his projections for the Phillies roster for March 26, when they open the season at home against the Texas Rangers, MLB.com expert analyst Todd Zolecki also gave the nod to Marchán — and explained why failing to win the job will be especially bad news for Stubbs.
“Stubbs signed a split contract with the Phillies, meaning he will be paid $925,000 in the big leagues or $575,000 in Triple-A. If Stubbs doesn’t make the Opening Day roster and clears outright waivers, he can accept the outright assignment or elect free agency,” Zolecki wrote this week. “But if he elects free agency, he forfeits the contract that guarantees him a relatively significant Minor League salary. It’s not a problem if Stubbs finds a big league job elsewhere, or if another team is willing to match or exceed his Triple-A salary. But other organizations could pay him less, which would give him something to think about.”
Stubbs a ’26th Man’ in 2026?
Thomson also told The Athletic Phillies correspondent Charlotte Varnes that the team may choose to carry three catchers, if Stubbs can prove his versatility at other positions on the field.
“There’s nothing that says he couldn’t be the 26th man and we carry three catchers,” Thomson told Varnes, adding that Stubbs could also serve as a backup option at first base, left field, and third base.
The lefty-swinging catcher has historically struggled at the plate, however. The Houston Astros drafted Stubbs in the eighth round in 2015, but traded him to the Phillies in a minor league deal in 2021.
Stubbs’ best season came in 2022 when he made 121 plate appearances for Philadelphia with an .812 OPS and five home runs. Otherwise, his career OPS in just 521 trips to the plate sits at a subpar .603.
Phillies Veteran Catcher Emerging as Surprise Opening Day Cut