The Phillies optioned Stubbs to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

This transaction locks in Rafael Marchan as the backup catcher behind J.T. Realmuto in Philadelphia to begin the 2025 regular season. Stubbs had a respectable spring with an .804 OPS in 10 games, and he has developed a reputation as a well-liked clubhouse presence, but he is a career .215/.294/.311 hitter in the major leagues.

Stubbs is not the favorite to win the Phillies' backup catcher job, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stubbs has backed up J.T. Realmuto for three straight seasons, offering good vibes in the clubhouse but very little at the plate, slashing .222/.305/.324. He'd probably do a capable job in that same role this season, but 25-year-old Rafael Marchan is now out of options and has a better chance to be part of the team's future.

Stubbs signed a one-year contract with the Phillies on Friday to avoid arbitration.

EDGE Analysis

By avoiding arbitration, Stubbs will serve as the Phillies' backup catcher behind J.T. Realmuto for a fourth straight season in 2025. Stubbs finished the 2024 regular season slashing .207/.296/.262 with five stolen bases, one home run and 11 RBI over 186 plate appearances.

Stubbs is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

He'll be on the bench for the fourth straight game and is likely to see scant playing time down the stretch after J.T. Realmuto returned to action Friday following a week-long absence. Stubbs will at least stick around as the top backup to Realmuto after the Phillies designated No. 3 backstop Aramis Garcia for assignment Sunday.

Stubbs went 4-for-4 with a triple, a double, one RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 11-3 win over Kansas City.

EDGE Analysis

Stubbs tripled and scored in the third inning before doubling in a run and scoring again in the sixth. He capped off his big day in the eighth inning with a single and another run scored. Stubbs is now slashing .216/.310/.281 with six extra-base hits through 158 plate appearances this season, but his starting opportunities are expected to remain fairly limited while top backstop J.T. Realmuto is available.

Stubbs will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Though he's included in the lineup for the series finale in Minnesota, Stubbs has moved back into the No. 2 role at catcher after JT Realmuto was reinstated from the injured list Saturday. Realmuto has been on the bench twice in the Phillies' five contests since his activation, but both of his absences came in day games after night games.

Stubbs is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

As per usual, Stubbs will yield to Rafael Marchan behind the dish with a lefty pitcher on the mound (Hogan Harris). Stubbs is slashing .194/.259/.243 across 112 plate appearances this season.

Stubbs will start at catcher and bat eighth in Sunday's game against Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

After sitting out in three of the past four games, Stubbs is back behind the dish for the series finale in Atlanta. In two of those three games that the lefty-hitting Stubbs didn't start, the Phillies opposed left-handed pitchers, so Stubbs would still seem to have a hold on the larger portion of a timeshare at catcher with the switch-hitting Rafael Marchan. Both backstops will see their opportunities decline once J.T. Realmuto (knee) returns from the injured list.

Stubbs is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Stubbs will get a breather for the series finale after he had started at catcher in both of the previous two contests. Rafael Marchan gets a turn behind the dish Sunday.

Stubbs went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

The 31-year-old backstop got the Phillies on the board in the third inning by clubbing a Roddery Munoz sinker over the right-field fence. The homer was Stubbs' first of the season, and he's been making a modest impact since J.T. Realmuto (knee) was sidelined, hitting safely in nine of his last 10 games and batting .278 (10-for-36) over that stretch. Saturday's homer was his first of the season, while the RBI was his first since June 2.