Phillies’ Max Kepler Could Be Trade Piece at Deadline

Phillies’ Max Kepler Could Be Trade Piece at Deadline originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Philadelphia Phillies signed outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason with the idea of him being the team’s everyday left fielder in 2025.

However, the left fielder has struggled this season, hitting just .210 with a .685 OPS, 10 home runs and 30 RBI. If Kepler kept up this pace, the veteran would fall well short of his season averages.

Over his first 10 seasons in MLB with the Minnesota Twins, Kepler averaged 24 home runs, 76 RBI, and a .743 OPS each year.

Fansided’s Edward Eng believes Kepler could be moved by the Phillies at the MLB trade deadline because of his lackluster performance and the team’s need for improvement at the position.

“As one of the key signings from this past offseason to bolster the Phillies outfield, Max Kepler has been quite the disappointment since joining his new team in 2025,” Eng wrote. “Despite showing some glimpses of offensive potential from time to time, it just hasn’t been consistent enough over the course of the season.”

Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski (left) and manager Rob Thomson (59) (right) watch bullpen sessions spring training workouts at BayCare Ballpark.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

In addition to the inconsistency at the plate, Kepler hasn’t been an everyday starter either. The outfielder voiced his frustration with the lack of playing time, but it’s hard to argue when his numbers have dipped the way they have.

“Even more puzzling is the fact that the Phillies initially planned to use Kepler as an everyday player. But seeing that he has accumulated just 47 at-bats against lefties, including having only three starts all year against southpaw starters, he appears to be more in a platoon situation instead,” Eng wrote. “But even with that arrangement, Kepler is somehow even hitting worse against right-handed pitching, with just a .210 average facing righties and .213 versus lefties.

“With the experiment starting to feel like it isn’t working, the Phillies’ potential pursuit of an outfielder at the deadline could spell the end of his tenure with the club.”

The Phillies need some help at the trade deadline with their outfield, and if Kepler isn’t getting the job done, there’s no sense in keeping him.

Philadelphia has no commitment to the veteran outfielder following this season, so a trade at the deadline could fair well for both sides.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.

Phillies’ Max Kepler Could Be Trade Piece at Deadline

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