The outcome of this season is unknown to Philadelphia Phillies supporters. In fact, they have no idea what the team will do when the trade deadline arrives. Will an outfielder be acquired? A pitcher who starts? An arm for the bullpen? Each of the three? No one is aware. The team won’t remain still, that much is certain. A present member of the squad must leave in order to make room for the newcomer. That’s a fantastic place to start, especially since they have three catchers. Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs are both mediocre players, but Stubbs’ off-field skills ought to give him the advantage when the time comes.
As the team’s “chief vibes officer,” Stubbs won over both teammates and supporters after arriving in town in a small deal with the Houston Astros prior to the 2022 season. Even though he doesn’t have a strong bat, he contributes significantly to the team’s clubhouse culture.
Although Stubbs has won everyone over with his intangibles, his on-field output could be characterized as mediocre, unimpressive, or boring. Stubbs has a poor slash line of.218/.300/.313 with seven home runs and nine stolen bases in 165 games over five seasons with the Phillies. In addition to being the starting pitcher in blowout games, the 33-year-old has played first base, third base, and outfield in addition to catching.
Unfortunately, during the past two years, Rafael Marchán, a once-regarded prospect, has pushed Stubbs off the roster, giving him the short end of the stick when it comes to backup catching duties. Since then, Marchán has recorded a disastrous.163/.223/.247 line, while Stubbs has largely been banished to Triple-A.
It’s interesting to note that the Phillies have decided to carry both second-string players for the past month or so, primarily because they don’t have any other players in the minor leagues that are worthy of promotion. While Stubbs and Marchán argue over table scraps once or twice a week, J.T. Realmuto, the primary backstop, continues to receive the majority of the reps behind the dish.
That arrangement is probably going to change as the trade deadline approaches. One of the unnecessary catchers should be the first player cut if the Phillies acquire a hitter, who will require a roster place. It might come down to intangibles because neither Stubbs nor Marchán can hit a lick.
Because of his versatility and quick footwork, Stubbs sometimes appears as a pinch runner for sluggers like Kyle Schwarber. His position as the Major League Baseball Players Association union representative for the Phillies also works to his advantage. In his third season as the Phillies’ representative, the Californian is expected to continue speaking for his teammates during the difficult labor talks between owners and players this winter.
Baseball fans should be aware of the seriousness of the labor issue since the owners’ declared demand for a salary ceiling could result in games being missed for the first time in more than thirty years. Stubbs has the ability to vote on behalf of the Phillies players, thus it might be worthwhile for the organization to retain him.
In the end, neither Rafael Marchán nor Garrett Stubbs are doing anything to help the Phillies win baseball games in 2026, and they most likely won’t for some time. In the long run, a three-catcher arrangement with two hitless players is unfeasible, and that roster position could be better utilized. Garrett Stubbs shouldn’t be the one to say farewell to when the time comes.
