Phillies looking to find trade for Garrett Stubbs as Rafael Marchán wins backup catcher job

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies are searching for a trade partner for Garrett Stubbs.

With Philadelphia’s season beginning on Thursday against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park, the team named Rafael Marchán the backup to veteran J.T. Realmuto. Stubbs is out of options, meaning the Phillies cannot simply send him to Triple-A.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will now spend the next few days checking if another organization would need Stubbs’ services on their big-league roster.

“He knows he’s not going to make the club,” Dombrowski said Sunday. “We will continue to talk to clubs to see if somebody has major-league interest in him until Wednesday, which is when our Opening Day roster has to be filed.”

Stubbs, a fan favorite, served as Philadelphia’s No. 2 behind Realmuto for three seasons before spending most of last year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He had a .753 OPS in 71 games with the IronPigs, then had only one at-bat with the Phillies in September. He’s batted only .221 with a .627 OPS in his four-year Phillies career, but teammates and coaches have considered him instrumental in preparation with pitchers.

If the Phillies fail to make a trade involving Stubbs by Wednesday, Dombrowski said, they would have to designate him for assignment. They could still negotiate a potential deal for a few more days after that point. But eventually, they’d have to place him on waivers if no trade materializes. Stubbs could potentially return to the organization on a minor-league deal if he clears waivers in that scenario.

The 32-year-old will stay at the team’s facilities in the meantime. He’ll appear in the Phillies’ spring game against the Yankees on Sunday, Dombrowski said, and could possibly play again on Monday, the final day of camp.

Stubbs showed some versatility this spring by appearing in games in left field and third base for the Phillies in an attempt to possibly make the roster in a utility role. Ultimately, utility player Dylan Moore earned the final bench spot after triggering an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal. He was added to the 40-man roster on Sunday, officially beating out Stubbs and outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, who will head to Lehigh Valley.

Dombrowski said the Phillies chose Moore, a light-hitting former Gold Glove Award winner who has played every position except catcher, because he can give players all around the diamond some days off their feet without needing too much playing time.

Philadelphia’s bench will include Marchán, Moore, Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa, with Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, Adolis García and rookie Justin Crawford getting the regular looks.