On Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies were shut out 7–0 by the Tampa Bay Rays in their final spring training contest. With preseason play now behind them, the team shifts focus to Thursday’s Opening Day matchup against the Texas Rangers.
Phillies Shop Veteran Catcher
Reports indicate that Philadelphia is exploring trade options for veteran catcher Garrett Stubbs. According to Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer (via MLB Rumors), the club has placed Stubbs on the trade block.
Phillies Nation’s Ty Daubert noted on March 22 that Rafael Marchán has secured a roster spot, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is now seeking a potential deal for Stubbs. If no trade is finalized by Wednesday, the team is expected to designate him for assignment.
Stubbs is coming off a limited 2025 season in which he appeared in just five games. The 32-year-old has spent the last four seasons with Philadelphia, primarily serving as a backup catcher and clubhouse presence.
Back in November, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported that Stubbs agreed to a split contract, earning $925,000 in the majors and $575,000 in the minors, despite being out of minor-league options.
Career Snapshot
Selected in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, Stubbs has logged seven MLB seasons, including time with the Houston Astros. Over 197 career games, he holds a .215 batting average with seven home runs, 45 RBIs, and 65 runs scored.
While his offensive numbers are modest, some observers have praised his athleticism and leadership. One analyst from The Red Corner argued that Stubbs deserved the backup role this season based on those intangibles, even if Marchán offers stronger defensive skills.
Phillies Building on Strong Season
Philadelphia enters the new campaign following another impressive year, having captured the National League East title with a 96–66 record. With expectations high, the club appears intent on fine-tuning its roster ahead of the regular season—even if that means parting ways with a familiar veteran.
