PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies have told catcher Garrett Stubbs he is being designated for assignment, closing out a five-season stay with the club just after the World Series wrapped up.
Once the move becomes official, Philadelphia has five days to either trade the 33-year-old or put him on waivers.
Stubbs came over from Houston in a small trade before the 2022 season and spent three years as the primary backup to J.T. Realmuto. Over the last two seasons he slipped to third on the depth chart behind Rafael Marchan.
His 2026 season was a grind. With no minor league options left, he was exposed to waivers as camp closed in March after trade talks went nowhere, then rejoined the roster in mid-April when Realmuto went on the injured list. Philadelphia kept three catchers once Realmuto came back, and Stubbs mostly rode the bench.
He played in 35 games, made 17 starts at catcher and one in left field, and hit .153 with no extra-base hits and three RBIs. A bout of left wrist inflammation cost him about a week and a half in July.
The Phillies have already said they intend to cut back Realmuto’s workload next season, so another depth catcher could be on their offseason shopping list. Stubbs broke into the majors with the Astros in 2019 and has eight big league seasons on his resume.
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