The Philadelphia Phillies have designated Garrett Stubbs, their longtime backup catcher and fan favorite, for assignment as they begin reshaping their roster after another postseason run. Stubbs, 33, has played 128 starts behind the plate for Philadelphia, batting .212 with seven home runs over his tenure, though his offensive struggles continued in 2026 when he hit .153. The Phillies now have a week to trade Stubbs or expose him to waivers, and Stubbs has indicated he plans to elect free agency if he clears waivers.

Stubbs’ impact with the Phillies extended far beyond his statistics, as he was known for his leadership in the clubhouse and mentoring younger players. During the Phillies' five-year period of postseason appearances, Stubbs earned a reputation for cultivating a positive and winning team culture. His contributions included organizing postgame activities, managing team morale with catchy slogans on T-shirts, and curating music playlists, all of which resonated with teammates and fans alike.

Looking ahead, Stubbs is channeling his energy into projects off the field while he figures out his next playing destination. This winter, during an anticipated MLB offseason lockout, he plans to collaborate with San Francisco Giants infielder Matt Chapman and his brother CJ Stubbs on a YouTube golf series. The project aims to engage baseball fans craving content during a lockout and will also include player-organized workouts in case spring training gets disrupted.

Stubbs’ brother CJ is currently a catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, highlighting the family’s deep baseball ties. Despite his uncertain MLB future, Garrett Stubbs appears committed to staying connected to the game in innovative ways, blending his baseball experience with media and community engagement. Fans of the Phillies will remember him as a vibrant personality who helped shape the team’s culture during successful postseason stretches from 2021 through 2026.