Phillies activate J.T. Realmuto from IL but DFA an unexpected veteran

The Philadelphia Phillies got off to a terrible start to the 2026 season, but have won four games in a row since firing Rob Thomson.

And the good news keeps coming, as J.T. Realmuto, who was on the injured list, is coming back on May second. However, there's an unexpected scenario playing out with his return.

As MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports, the Phillies are activating Realmuto, but instead of cutting ties with Rafael Marchan or Garrett Stubbs, the Phillies are DFA'ing Dylan Moore, a versatile infielder/outfielder, to keep three catchers.

Phillies keep 3 catchers on MLB roster after Realmuto move

"J.T. Realmuto is back from the 10-day IL," Zolecki reports. "To make room on the 26-man roster, Dylan Moore has been DFA'd. Phillies will carry three catchers moving forward: Realmuto, Rafael Marchan, and Garrett Stubbs."

This is a very fascinating outcome for the Phillies, as they've decided to do something most teams don't do: keep three catchers.

Realmuto will be the everyday starter, while Stubbs and Marchan will be backup options. They will likely play different roles, with Marchan taking a defensive-focused approach, while Stubbs might be more offense and speed oriented.

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Marchan has been great defensively for the Phillies this season, but his offense has been brutal. He has a .078 batting average with a .267 OPS.

Stubbs has only had nine at-bats, but he has a .222 average this season with a .495 OPS. He is also a pinch-runner option for the Phillies, as he's fast enough to be productive on the base-paths for the Phillies if needed.

This is a fascinating catcher room, and it will be interesting to see how Don Mattingly manages his three catchers, especially when it comes to making substitutions late in games.

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