Phillies’ third-string catcher should get a September call-up

The Philadelphia Phillies will have one last opportunity to add players for the postseason run when MLB rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1. Prior to 2023, any player on a team's 40-man roster was eligible to be called up on this date, but changes to that rule have reduced that number to two. With two roster spots to fill, the Phillies will have the chance to carry an additional position player and pitcher.

The Phillies have an obvious need for another bullpen arm, and it's very possible the team recalls one of Tyler Phillips or Michael Mercado to make a start or two down the stretch and offer the Phillies additional arms in a multi-inning relief role. With questions about Taijuan Walker's spot in the rotation a hot topic of debate following a season of lackluster performances, it's possible pitchers like Phillips and Mercado could get a second look during the final month of the season.

Phillies’ third-string catcher Rafael Marchán should get a September call-up

But who will get the call when the Phillies are tasked with adding another position player? While the Phillies have spent most of the season trying to find the right combination of players to carry in a crowded outfield mix, the team has seemingly found what it was looking for after trading for Austin Hays at the trade deadline and recalling hot hitting super-utility man Weston Wilson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley last month.

With Edmundo Sosa and Wilson capable of holding down multiple spots in the infield, it seems highly unlikely that the Phillies will look to call up an infielder. That being said, there is one spot on the diamond that could use a little more depth at the big league level. And that spot is located behind the plate.

The Phillies were forced to navigate a nearly one-month stretch without J.T. Realmuto when the dependable backstop was sidelined after undergoing minor knee surgery in early June. That loss opened up more opportunities for veteran backup catcher Garrett Stubbs and a chance for Phillies fans to get an extended look at Rafael Marchán for the first time since 2021.

This period of games without Realmuto coincided with some of the worst baseball the Phillies had played all season. While Stubbs and Marchán did their best at the plate and behind the dish as replacements for Realmuto, neither came close to matching the kind of production the three-time All-Star provides when fully healthy. But there were plenty of positive takeaways.

Marchán reminded the Phillies front office and the entire fanbase that he's a pretty good hitter who is more than capable of handling duties behind the plate at the MLB level. After a couple of seasons lost to injuries and blocked from playing time on the 26-man roster, Marchán has reestablished his value this season after making his way back from a spring training back injury and thriving at Triple-A.

When called upon to split time with Stubbs during parts of June and July, Marchán hit .294 with 15 hits, three home runs, and six RBI in 51 at-bats. With Stubbs currently having a tough season at the plate with a .216 batting average, 30 hits, only one home run and eight RBI over 139 at-bats, Marchán should definitely be in the discussion to compete for the backup catcher role in 2025.

With rosters due to expand to 28 players on Sept. 1, adding Marchán would add some protection to the lineup on days when Realmuto gets a night off. We saw this situation play out recently when manager Rob Thomson refused to use Realmuto as a pinch-hitter (subscription required) late in a game in which the Phillies were trailing, per Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Having Marchán's switch-hitting bat on the bench would give Thomson more flexibility in similar situations down the stretch, especially later in games when Stubbs' inconsistent bat should probably take a seat in close ball games.

What direction will the Phillies take when they expand the roster to 28 players? That's left to be seen, but adding more depth at catcher makes a lot of sense for a team that seems to have settled on its outfield and infield mix over the last couple of weeks.

Recalling Marchán would give the Phillies another capable backstop and protect the team against exposing the offensively limited Stubbs to elite bullpen arms over the last month of the season. These factors alone should be enough to give Marchán the inside track for a roster spot next weekend.