Phillies Cut Ties With Stubbs After Five Seasons

The Philadelphia Phillies are designating catcher Garrett Stubbs for assignment, bringing an end to the 33-year-old's five-year tenure with the club. The move, reported on Thursday, is part of the roster reshaping now under way across baseball following the World Series, with teams clearing space ahead of the offseason. Stubbs arrived from the Houston Astros in a minor trade ahead of the 2022 season and spent the next three years as the backup behind J.T. Realmuto, a role that made him a popular figure in the clubhouse even as his playing time stayed limited. In 2026 he appeared in 35 games, batting .153 with no extra-base hits and three RBIs over 59 at-bats. Once the move becomes official, Philadelphia will have five days to trade Stubbs or place him on waivers. The decision also fits with the club's stated plan to reduce Realmuto's workload next season, a shift that may open the door to a new depth option behind the plate. For Stubbs, who has spent eight seasons in the majors, the coming days will determine whether another club sees value in his experience and left-handed bat.