Chief Vibes Officer

When you’re J.T. Realmuto’s backup the expectations are set just a bit different. Garrett Stubbs hit career highs in games played and plate appearances this season, and still only played about a third of the season. For most backup catchers that wouldn’t be enough to warrant a positive overall individual effort, but in this particular situation it’s par for the course.

2024 Stats: 54 G, 187 PA, .207/.296/.262, 34 H, 11 RBI, 1 HR, 50 K, 59 OPS+, 0.4 fWAR

The Good

If “Vibes per 9” was a stat, no one would score higher than Garrett Stubbs. That’s been a fact for three years now, and he has been a huge influence on the culture and clubhouse during his time in Philly so far. From his postseason celebrations to the sudden trend of teams across leagues selling branded overalls, Stubbs has made a positive impact based on good vibes alone. And as shown in 2022, positive clubhouse morale plays a huge role in differentiating a good team from a “two wins away from a parade down Broad” team.

The Bad

When exposed as much as he was this season, it’s clear that Stubbs just isn’t that good of a player. The backup catcher role is not a big deal when Realmuto plays 130 games in the season, but when he misses time like he did this year for knee surgery it becomes significantly more important. Stubbs, unfortunately, doesn’t stack up against the rest of the field.

Stubbs also maintained his role as one of the Phillies’ mop-up pitchers, appearing in four games in relief. His 15.75 ERA wasn’t exactly inspiring. There’s an irony to the fact that he gave up twice as many homers (2) as he hit (1) this season.

The Future

The catcher market this winter is interesting in that the position is simultaneously a dime a dozen while also sparce. Most of the free agents available are either aging and around replacement level, or going to sign starter deals of their own.

There’s also the question of an internal replacement. Rafael Marchan performed admirably in his mid-season call up for Realmuto’s IL stint, but injuries are a major concern of his own. Is he capable of maintaining a healthy season, or would the Phillies be rolling the injury dice with him and Realmuto on the roster together?

Most likely, Stubbs will be elsewhere come Spring Training. And while (presumably) Marchan will be an upgrade on the field, the Chief Vibes Officer will be missed.