Phillies Place Garrett Stubbs on Designated for Assignment

Garrett Stubbs is no longer under contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The team placed the 33-year-old backup catcher on the designated for assignment list on Thursday, removing him from the 40-man roster. The club has seven days to complete a trade or send him through waivers. If other teams do not claim him, Stubbs intends to declare himself a free agent.

The move follows a season in which Stubbs saw limited action. He recorded 65 plate appearances and hit .153. His production this year contributed to a combined .316 on-base plus slugging percentage and two extra-base hits for the backup catching corps, which also included Rafael Marchán. Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stated the organization aims to reduce the workload for primary catcher J.T. Realmuto and seek more offensive output from the backup position next season.

Stubbs served as the backup to Realmuto since 2022. In that span, he made 128 career starts behind the plate. His most active season was 2024, when he started 47 games. Over that three-year period, he batted .212 with seven home runs and a .598 OPS.

Before joining the Phillies, Stubbs arrived via a trade with the Houston Astros in November 2021. The deal sent minor-league outfielder Logan Cerny to Houston. At the time of the transaction, Philadelphia had not reached the postseason in ten years. Since Stubbs' arrival, the team has made five consecutive playoff appearances, a streak that matches another period in franchise history.

The club credited Stubbs with shaping team culture. He attended daily scouting sessions and most bullpen work even when not in the lineup. Team officials noted his mentorship of younger players and his role in managing the postgame environment. They also pointed to his time in triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025 as evidence of his potential for future coaching or managerial roles.

If Stubbs clears waivers, he will join a group of veterans entering free agency on Thursday. The list includes Alec Bohm, Luis Arraez, Edmundo Sosa, Adolis García, José Alvarado, Brooks Raley, and Nestor Cortés. These players became eligible for the market upon the conclusion of the World Series.

Stubbs stated he plans to continue playing in the 2027 season. The Phillies have not announced a replacement catcher to fill his role on the active roster.