The Phillies are expected to secure a final roster spot in the outfield. Johan Rojas I’m facing a PED suspension. Several veterans are vying for this spot in spring training, but coach Rob Thompson added an intriguing name to the race on Friday. The captain shared that gunner Garrett Stubbs According to Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, he has been working out in the infield and outfield. “There’s nothing saying he can’t be the 26th man and we can’t carry three catchers.said Thompson.
Stubbs has made 15 career outfield appearances, but more than half of those came when he debuted for the Astros in 2019. He played just two innings on turf in Philadelphia. Thompson said left field is a possibility, but he also mentioned first and third base. Stubbs’ range of professional infield experience includes one game at Triple-A first base in 2018 and 11 games at second base at Sugar Land from 2019 to 2021.
Stubbs, 32, has a wRC+ of 70 in 521 big league games. He spent parts of the last four seasons with the Phillies after arriving in a trade from Houston. Stubbs looked like a viable backup catcher option in his first year with the club, hitting .264/.350/.462 in 50 games in 2022. His production at the plate has declined significantly since then. Stubbs appeared in just five MLB games last season, his fewest since his debut.
Philadelphia is back JT Realmuto A three-year, $45 million contract was signed to handle most of the work behind the plate. Raphael Marcian is a prime candidate for a backup job. He’s been a better defender than Stubbs and also offers the added advantage of being a switch hitter. Having a third catcher in the mix provides additional flexibility, but it’s not like Realmuto can slide when the designated catcher doesn’t get to him. with Kyle Schwarber Realmuto, who takes over, will be behind the plate when he’s in the lineup. Stubbs plays well as a catcher (as does Realmuto), so he could be considered in a pinch-run scenario.
RosterResource is currently dylan moore Secured a final roster spot in Philadelphia. The utilityman has been designated for assignment by the Mariners midway through the 2025 campaign. He remained with Rangers for the final month of the season. Moore signed a minor league contract with the Phillies in early February. He had a hit on Saturday, but he hit just .188 in spring training.
Moore primarily provides speed and defensive versatility. He has 46 stolen bases over the past two seasons. The 33-year-old played all four infield positions, center field and right field for Seattle last year. Moore showed some power at times, although his strikeout rate was over 30%.
If the Phillies try to replace Rojas with an outfielder, Brian de la Cruz It seems to be the best option, at least in terms of experience. He has spent parts of the last five seasons in the big leagues. De la Cruz was an everyday player from 2023 to 2024. The veteran is in camp as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor league contract in November. De La Cruz broke camp for the Braves last season, but hit .191 with a 36% strikeout rate and was in Triple-A by mid-April. He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees and spent the rest of the year in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
De La Cruz hit a career-high 21 home runs in 2024, splitting the year between the Marlins and Pirates. He finished the year with a 78 wRC+ and didn’t get much attention in free agency. De La Cruz spent time at all three outfield positions. He was graded negatively with each defensive run saved. His worst position was left field (-7 DRS), which will likely be his opportunity in Philadelphia. Adolis Garcia Pencil in right field, Crawford in center field, and Marsh in left field. If Crawford is on the bench, Marsh will likely slide to center.
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