Phillies to Promote Garrett Stubbs as Part of Expanded Roster
With MLB rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players on September 1, the Philadelphia Phillies are set to call up catcher Garrett Stubbs, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber. He’ll be joined by newly acquired pitcher Tim Mayza.
Stubbs’ promotion is notable because it gives the Phillies three catchers on the active roster. Rafael Marchan has served as the backup to J.T. Realmuto for most of the season, while Stubbs has spent the year with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. His specific role down the stretch and into the postseason is still unclear, but he’s known for being a strong clubhouse presence — someone the team may have missed.
Garrett Stubbs
Out of sight for most fans this season, Stubbs was once a reliable backup. In 2022, he hit .264/.350/.462 with five homers and 16 RBIs over 46 games. However, his production dipped significantly in 2023 and 2024, managing just two homers and 23 RBIs across 95 games combined, with an OPS+ well below league average.
Sent down to work on his hitting, Stubbs has shown improvement in Triple-A this year, slashing .265/.352/.402 with eight homers and 50 RBIs in 71 games. If he can bring that form to the majors, he could become a useful bench bat during the playoff push.
Tim Mayza
Mayza’s career has been up and down. After a rough rookie season in 2017 and surgery that sidelined him in 2020, he rebounded with a strong stretch, posting a 2.79 ERA over 193 appearances through 2023. Last season, he was particularly effective with a 1.52 ERA in 69 games.
But 2024 has been a different story. Mayza struggled badly, recording an 8.03 ERA in 35 outings. After injuries and declining performance, the Blue Jays designated him for assignment, and the Phillies later picked him up.
Philly hopes the veteran lefty can regain form and become a key bullpen piece, especially with Jose Alvarado ineligible for the postseason.
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