The Phillies have decided to call up a familiar face just in time for the closing chapter of the 2025 season as the rosters expand from 26 players to 28. All MLB teams are able to add one position player, and one pitcher to their current squad, and it hasn't taken the Phils long to find the perfect fit.
Phillies reunite with Garrett Stubbs
Garrett Stubbs has been called up from Lehigh Valley after spending the season with the minor league side. Prior to that, he spent 3 years with the Phillies where he appeared in 141 games, batting .222 and recording all 7 of his career home-runs.
Stubbs was sent down to Lehigh Valley back in March due to roster construction. He had an option to head to minors, with competition Rafael Marchan being out of options. He hadn't played at that level since he was a member with the Astros in 2021, but took it in his stride, with an intent to mentor some of the teams' brightest prospects.
Through 71 games at AAA this season, Stubbs hit .265 with 8 homers, but his impact on the young talents around him brought much more value.
“I’m not a pusher. I’m not going to go up to a Mick (Abel), or any of the young pitchers on our staff and try to insert wisdom upon them. If they have a question, if they want to know something, I certainly have had my fair share of time in the big leagues, if they want some of the insight with some of the things I’ve experienced, I’m an open book. Always will be.” Stubbs told Cory Nidoh back in March.
That attitude wasn't lost on Dave Dombrowski, who took a chance on a catcher who the team know very well.
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He will serve as the team's third catcher for the remainder of the season.
Tim Mayza joins the Phillies
Joining Stubbs will be veteran lefty, Tim Mayza. Mayza has endured a rollercoaster career that has featured spells of real promise, otherwise held back by injuries. Now 33-years-old, Mayza has been sidelined for the majority of the current league year due to both a lat and teres major strain.
However, this is someone who has pitched in the postseason 6 times in the last 3 years, most recently for the Yankees in 2024 where he pitched 4.1 innings across 3 games, allowing 2 hits, 0 runs, and striking out 1.
When he's healthy, the veteran has been known to produce and has done so on some big playoff stages. The Phillies already have a fairly solid group of lefties, but adding someone with a wealth of experience behind him, who is under no pressure to perform right away, allows the Phils to be patient as he gets up to speed should the team ever need a reliable relief arm when the tough gets going. If he can get back to even the level we saw him flirt with as a Pirate, posting a 2.89 ERA through 7 appearances, this could be a really solid move for the team.
