He played as a catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays.

[1] He also received an invitation to spring training where he and Guillermo Quiróz were slated to compete for the backup catching job behind incumbent starter Gregg Zaun.

Quiroz was later claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, and Phillips started the season with the team after Zaun was put on the disabled list.

[2] Upon Bengie Molina's departure through free agency to the San Francisco Giants in the winter of 2007, Phillips once again became the Jays' backup catcher and occasional reserve infielder.

[6] In 2019, the New York Yankees named Phillips the bullpen coach for the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League.