The Philadelphia Phillies have proven to be a World Series-caliber team over the last few years, including this season, but they’re far from perfect.
The bullpen has been a weak spot in 2025 after losing veteran high-leverage relievers Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman in free agency, but the group is slowly improving after a disastrous start. The inconsistency in the outfield is also an issue through the early part of the season, but there’s an overlooked weakness that has been plaguing the Phillies for some time now.
The backup catcher role behind J.T. Realmuto has been an issue for the Phillies. Whether it was Andrew Knapp, Garrett Stubbs and now Rafael Marchán, the Phillies haven’t gotten much offensive production behind Realmuto.
Stubbs is a 31-year-old catcher who has a .222 career batting average in 141 games with the Phillies. The veteran didn’t make the big league club out of spring training and is spending the 2025 season in Triple-A.
Marchán has potential as a former top prospect, but injuries derailed his career. With no minor league options remaining, the Phillies gave the 26-year-old a chance as Realmuto’s backup to start the season. Although he has just 25 at-bats in 2025, Marchán is hitting .160 with no extra-base hits.
Nationals release veteran catcher Andrew Knizner who could solve Phillies’ backup problems
The Phillies need a reliable backup catcher for when Realmuto has a day off. The 34-year-old simply can’t play every game at such a taxing position. Not to mention, he missed over a month last year due to injury.
The Washington Nationals, an NL East rival, may have just solved the Phillies’ backup catcher problem with their recent roster move. The Nationals are releasing catcher Andrew Knizner, per FanSided’s MLB Insider Robert Murray.
The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Knizner with a seventh-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft out of North Carolina State. He appeared in 255 games across five seasons with the Cardinals, but it never worked out with the team. Knizner’s best season came in 2023, when he hit .241 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 70 games.
Knizner appeared in 35 games with the Texas Rangers in 2024 before signing a minor league deal with the Nationals during the offseason. The 30-year-old is slashing .382/.516/.500 with a 1.016 OPS, six extra-base hits and 11 RBI in 23 games this year with the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate.
With Knizner utilizing his opt-out to become a free agent, the Phillies should take a long look at the veteran. If the Phillies want to compete for a World Series, the team must improve a vital role in the backup catcher position.