Max Kepler is 33 years old and soon to be coming off an 80-game suspension after testing positive for performance enhancing drug use. Neither is good when you're an outfielder looking for work in Major League Baseball.
Nonetheless, an actual MLB team — the Arizona Diamondbacks — signed Kepler to a minor league contract June 8 despite the fact that he isn't eligible to play for him.
Why did this happen? And how will it work?
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Kepler is coming off a poor season in Philadelphia. He slashed .216/.300/.391 (88 OPS+) with 18 homers and 52 RBIs in his only season with the Phillies, then became a free agent.
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MLB announced in January that Kepler tested positive for Epitrenbolone, a performance enhancing substance, in violation of its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He was suspended 80 games, and won't be able to join the Diamondbacks' active roster — or that of any team — until June 25.
The D-backs are betting on a bounceback. Kepler hit 36 home runs in 2019 with the Minnesota Twins , with whom he debuted in 2015. He posted a solid 3-bWAR season in 2023, his eighth full season in MLB.
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But Kepler saw his production take a dip across the board in 2024, when he was limited to 105 games because of a knee injury. His OPS+ fell from 120 to 91, and his eight home runs were a career low. The Phillies bet on a bounceback too, but allowed him to leave as a free agent after signing a one-year, $10 million contract.
Players suspended under the joint drug agreement can prepare to return to the field by playing minor league games once 15 days remain in their suspension. That means the D-backs can put Kepler in a minor league lineup on June 10 at the earliest.
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However, Kepler would be ineligible to appear in a postseason game this year because of his suspension. That means he'll only be around to help his teammates through the end of September.
Currently, Arizona occupies the third and final Wild Card position in the National League. At 31-31, Arizona is a half-game ahead of the NL West rival San Diego Padres.
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The Diamondbacks already have a prolific left-handed hitter in right field, Corbin Carroll. Kepler had mostly played right field before last year but ostensibly he will stay in left field, his primary position in Philadelphia.
The Diamondbacks have rotated through left fielders this season with little success. Through week's end, only two teams have fewer Wins Above Replacement from their left fielders than Arizona, according to Baseball Reference .
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