The Philadelphia Phillies made a roster decision with Garrett Stubbs days after designating him for assignment.
Days before the season began, the Philadelphia Phillies were forced to make a tough decision with veteran Garrett Stubbs.
The team informed the veteran that he wouldn’t be making the Opening Day roster, and Dave Dombrowski even admitted that the team was exploring potential trade scenarios with teams in need of a catcher.
The Phillies exec said if they weren’t able to find a new trade partner, the team would designate Stubbs for assignment, which is exactly what happened.
Philadelphia announced an update on the Stubbs situation on Saturday. The team announced that the 32-year-old had cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Stubbs had the option to become a free agent, but he already signed a split contract with the Phillies over the offseason, which will pay him $575,000 for playing in the Minors, per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
Jun 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs (21) hits an RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesKeeping Stubbs in the organization is a silent win for the Phillies. The catcher has been a key veteran presence in the locker room over the last four seasons, and his experience being the backstop for this rotation could be critical in case of a potential injury to JT Realmuto or Rafael Marchan down the line.
Not only that, but the Phillies are also working with Stubbs for him to become a much more versatile fielder, which could help him get back to the big league level at some point this season.
Manager Rob Thomson said during Spring Training that the team wanted to give him opportunities in the outfield and infield. Stubbs ended up playing one game in left field and two at third base during Grapefruit League action.
It looks like the Phillies prefer to keep Stubbs on the left side of the field based on where he’s played.
That’ll be the same plan for Stubbs moving forward, and he’ll likely get some time around the diamond in Triple-A, too.
Stubbs isn’t the greatest hitter, owning a career OPS of .603 in 461 at-bats, but the Phillies know the value he can bring that may not show up in the box score. Plus, if he can become a successful utilityman, there’s a chance that Stubbs is back with the big-league team at some point in 2026.
Guardians Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Guardians. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.