Lost in the End: Phillies Move On from Beloved Garrett Stubbs

Well, that wasn’t very nice. 

After four seasons, an era has come to an end. Without a spot on the 26-man Opening Day roster and with no remaining minor-league options, the Phillies officially announced that veteran catcher and beloved Phillie Garrett Stubbs will either be traded or designated for assignment prior to the beginning of the 2026 season. 

And believe it or not, it’s not the possibility of a DFA that makes this situation “not very nice.” In fact, it’s the playing time Stubbs got in Spring Training, misleading Phillies fans toward a once-promising resolution that never came to fruition. 

Against the Braves on March 18, Stubbs led off and started at third base. Three days earlier, he made an appearance in left field. Now, his next appearance will be cleaning out his locker at BayCare Ballpark after being cut from the Opening Day roster. 

In 2026, the Gen Zers would call this “rage bait,” a term that is certainly not a journalistic standard but appropriate for this context, nonetheless. 

Despite never receiving consistent playing time with the Phillies over the last four seasons, Stubbs was a staple in the organization. Since 2022, he has been known as the Phillies’ “vibes” guy, bringing an ever-positive spirit to the clubhouse. In the postseason, Stubbs debuted the famous Phillies overalls in postgame locker room celebrations, an outfit that both players and fans have replicated. He was the founder of numerous in-game celebrations, the maker of the playlists, and never a disappointing voice in the media room. 

In 384 at-bats with the Phillies, Stubbs posted a slash line of .221/.304/.323, cumulating to a .627 OPS. And for someone who drew one start per week, his subpar bat was never too detrimental. While he may not be an offensive powerhouse, though, Stubbs surely had his moments, like June 15, 2022. With two on, two outs, and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Phillies were a pitch away from being shut out by the Miami Marlins. That pitch, however, did not end the game — it was a 90-mile-per-hour hanging slider that Stubbs pulled far into the right field stands, walking it off for the Phillies. 

Behind the dish, he compensated with his elite defense. In 2024, Stubbs’ 1.88-second pop time placed him in the 92^nd percentile among all catchers in Major League Baseball. 

Despite this defensive prowess, Stubbs did not make the team in 2025. Rafael Marchan — who has been the backup catcher since the beginning of last season and will begin 2026 with the same role — was out of minor-league options, so Stubbs’ odds were not great to begin with. He ended up getting one Major League at-bat later in the season, to which the Phillies fans greeted him with a standing ovation. 

This year, both guys are now out of minor-league options, and the Phillies decided to stick with Marchan, who has a stronger bat and a comparable defensive skillset. 

Surely, fans are going to miss the beloved backup catcher, especially after it seemed like Stubbs might make the roster as a utility player in the outfield. But more importantly, the Phillies have a strong core that will ensure Stubbs’ traditions and ever-positive attitude are maintained and embraced as the Phillies seek a World Series trophy yet again in 2026. 

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