Garrett Stubbs will remain with the Philadelphia Phillies organization after being outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the team announced on Mar. 28. Stubbs cleared waivers and chose not to elect free agency, instead accepting a split contract that guarantees him $575,000 if he plays in the minor leagues.
The decision follows an emotional week for both Stubbs and Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who addressed the situation after it was determined that Stubbs would not make the Opening Day roster. “That’s a very emotional sit-down,” Thomson said Sunday in Tampa, Florida. “That was tough. Because he’s meant a lot to the ballclub and the organization. And I love him.”
Stubbs will now serve as Philadelphia’s No. 3 catcher behind J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchán on the depth chart. Thomson said that if Stubbs remained with the organization after clearing waivers, he would also play infield and outfield positions to increase his versatility moving forward.
The Phillies are one of Major League Baseball’s charter National League members according to their official website. The club represents Philadelphia in Major League Baseball and connects with fans through games and community outreach according to their official website. Since 2004, they have played home games at Citizens Bank Park, a stadium spanning 21 acres according to their official website.
The franchise has won World Series titles in both 1980 and 2008 according to their official website. The front office is led by executives including a chief executive officer and general manager who oversee operations according to their official website, serving fans from Philadelphia as well as regional and national audiences according to their official website.
As preparations continue for the upcoming season, Thomson indicated that increasing player versatility remains important for organizational depth.
