With Realmuto back, Stubbs sticking around as Phils roll with 3 catchers

MIAMI -- J.T. Realmuto is back in the Phillies’ lineup, and Garrett Stubbs is here to help in any way he can.

The Phils on Saturday activated Realmuto from the 10-day injured list. He had been sidelined with back spasms. To make room on the 26-man roster, Dylan Moore was designated for assignment. The move gives the Phillies three catchers on the roster: Realmuto, Stubbs and Rafael Marchán.

“I like the thought of three catchers,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said before Saturday’s game against the Marlins. “It allows a little bit more freedom with pinch-hitting [and] running. Stubby is not a traditional catcher that can't do anything else. He can play second, he can play third. He can play left. He runs. He can steal a bag. He's a good baserunner, good bunter. We feel pretty good about Stubby. You've seen how much Moore played. That role is not a huge role, but the thought of having the third catcher with where J.T. has been -- we're hoping everything goes perfect, but you never know.”

Stubbs started in left field on Saturday, when Justin Crawford was a late scratch because of a migraine. Brandon Marsh also was unavailable because he got drilled on the right elbow by a pitch on Friday night, forcing the Phillies to start Stubbs in left, Adolis García in center and Felix Reyes in right.

Stubbs said a little more than an hour before the game that he was happy to do whatever was needed.

He served as Realmuto’s backup from 2022-24. He spent most of 2025 in Triple-A because he had a Minor League option remaining while Marchán did not. Marchán made the Opening Day roster, and Stubbs was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers, then accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A.

“I kind of felt like, I wouldn’t call it rock bottom, but that feeling of disappointment and also just getting sent out from the roster felt a lot different than last year when I got sent to Triple-A,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs’ family wasn’t with him in Triple-A like they will be in the big leagues.

So his personal life improves. And, yeah, nothing beats being in the big leagues.

“Being able to be in the locker room with the guys that have come from, you know, prior to ’22, where there were no real expectations, to building real expectations for fans and for the front office and for our coaches and for ourselves,” Stubbs said. “So being able to be part of that again, and I think that I've been able to contribute at a high level, both on and off the field, to where we've gone to. … Getting to be a part of that again is why I do it. I want to win. I like to win. We've done a lot of winning.”

Stubbs joined the Phillies before the eighth game of the Phillies’ 10-game losing streak, when Realmuto went on the IL. A few days later, the Phillies dismissed Rob Thomson, who jumpstarted the Phillies’ renaissance in 2022.

Mattingly took Thomson’s place.

“Topper was one of my favorite guys,” Stubbs said. “I think he was a favorite in the locker room by many. I think he was a favorite from the fans, too. Obviously, this year didn't go the way that we wanted, losing games and stuff. But getting to have Donnie as a replacement. You know, you can't have much better options than Donnie Baseball.”

Mattingly told him on Saturday that he was sticking around.

“I had Saturday marked on my calendar, knowing that a move was going to be made, not knowing whether it was gonna be me or whoever else,” Stubbs said. “You just never know. I’ve played this game long enough to know that trying to play GM is a bad game to play leading up to a decision-making day. I knew Saturday was coming. You try not to think about it.

“I took a deep breath when I heard from Don that I was going to be on the roster.”