The Phillies have optioned catcher Garrett Stubbs to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, according to the club. The move comes as no surprise and means Rafael Marchan will start 2025 as the team’s backup catcher.
Stubbs has an option left. Marchan doesn’t. That’s the main reason behind the transaction.
Catching depth is thin within the Phillies organization. This move gives the organization the ability to retain both Stubbs and Marchan. Had Marchan been optioned, he would’ve been subject to waivers, meaning another team could’ve picked him up.
Stubbs has been the Phillies’ backup catcher for the last three years, appearing in 141 games.