Garrett Stubbs Won't Return to Phillies
The backup catcher, who has served as the team's chief vibes officer since 2022, confirmed his departure from Philadelphia on social media.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Baseball
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Backup catcher Garrett Stubbs confirmed on social media that he will not return to the Philadelphia Phillies for a sixth season. Stubbs posted a farewell statement and leaves open the role of the team's chief vibes officer, which he has held since 2022.
Why it matters
Stubbs's exit leaves the Phillies without the clubhouse role he held for four seasons and opens their catching depth to questions heading into 2027. Rafael Marchán remains as the other backup catcher after a difficult 2026 season.
Stubbs posted a .208/.284/.292 career slash line over eight seasons, with three of those seasons played for the Houston Astros. Marchán batted under .100 in 34 games last year, while Realmuto's .205/.283/.331 line in 2026 was the worst of his career.
The players
Garrett Stubbs
Stubbs is a backup catcher who played three seasons with the Houston Astros before joining the Phillies.
J.T. Realmuto
Realmuto is the Phillies' starting catcher and a veteran who has been with the team through multiple postseason runs.
Dave Dombrowski
Dombrowski is the Phillies' president of baseball operations who oversees the club's roster decisions.
The details
Stubbs announced his departure through a farewell statement posted on social media that referenced former coaches, teammates, and Phillies fans. He was known for his role as chief vibes officer and for a dip-in-pool joke he made before the Phillies' 2023 NLDS against the Diamondbacks.
Timeline
2022: Stubbs begins serving as the Phillies' chief vibes officer.
2022 World Series: The Phillies lose to the Houston Astros in six games.
2023 NLDS: The Phillies lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games after leading 2-0.
2026 season: J.T. Realmuto finishes with his worst slash line of his career.
2027 season: Realmuto could play first base in his age 36 season, according to Dave Dombrowski.
Franchise History
Stubbs's exit comes after the Phillies lost the 2022 World Series to the Houston Astros in six games, a team that had employed him for his first three seasons. The departure marks the end of his tenure in Philadelphia, which began after that loss.
Fans following the Phillies' 2027 roster will want to watch how the team fills the backup catcher spot and the chief vibes officer role. Realmuto's potential move to first base could also change how the club uses its catching depth.
The takeaway
Stubbs's departure ends a four-year run that made the chief vibes officer role a visible part of the Phillies' clubhouse culture. Watch for the team's decision on who fills the position and the backup catcher spot.
Further reading
For more on the Phillies' roster moves, see Philadelphia Baseball.
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