The Philadelphia Phillies added a pair of right-handed-hitting infielders to their 40-man roster on Monday, claiming Brett Harris and Shay Whitcomb off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
The moves coincided with catcher Garrett Stubbs electing free agency after the team designated him for assignment the previous week, closing out his multi-year run as a depth option behind the plate.
Harris, 28, brings major-league experience primarily at third base and first base. Selected by the Oakland Athletics in the seventh round of the 2021 draft out of Gonzaga, he debuted in May 2024 and later bounced to the Boston Red Sox and Giants during the 2026 season.
Across 220 career at-bats, he has hit .186 with three home runs and 19 RBI, numbers that reflect limited big-league opportunity rather than a complete absence of skill.
In the minors, he has shown more consistent contact and extra-base production, posting solid on-base rates and occasional power while displaying reliable defensive hands.
With Philadelphia he profiles as organizational depth who can cover the corners if injuries arise, though his modest major-league slash lines suggest he will need to force the issue in spring training to earn regular playing time.
Whitcomb arrives with a more varied résumé and a higher ceiling in the eyes of some evaluators.
The former Houston Astros fifth-round pick from UC San Diego debuted in August 2024 and spent time with both Houston and San Francisco in 2026, batting .196 with five home runs across his career sample.
At Triple-A, he has flashed more power and speed, including stretches of 20-plus home runs and double-digit steals, while showing the versatility to handle shortstop, third base, second base, and the outfield corners.
He has also represented South Korea in international competition, adding another layer to his profile.
For the Phillies, he offers a right-handed bat with positional flexibility that could complement existing infield options, though his major-league strikeout rates and overall production will need improvement if he is to stick beyond a utility role.
Stubbs’s departure ends a five-year association that began with a minor trade from the Astros. The left-handed-hitting catcher served as the primary backup to J.T. Realmuto for several seasons before falling behind Rafael Marchán on the depth chart.
Limited offensive production and the loss of minor-league options left him expendable as the club reshaped its roster. His exit frees a 40-man spot and removes a popular clubhouse presence who had been a steady, if rarely starring, contributor during Philadelphia’s recent postseason runs.
Taken together, the transactions reflect a quiet offseason reshuffling. The Phillies gain two relatively inexpensive infielders who have already logged major-league innings and can be optioned or used as depth, while parting with a veteran catcher whose role had diminished.
Neither Harris nor Whitcomb is expected to alter the team’s projected starting lineup, yet both provide insurance and potential platoon or bench value as the organization continues to evaluate its roster ahead of spring training.
