July 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler takes batting practice at Citizens Bank Park. (Credit: Grace Del Pizzo/On Pattison)
Max Kepler — who is a free agent after spending the 2025 season with the Phillies — has been suspended for 80 games following a failed performance-enhancing drug test:
Max Kepler, the former Phillies/Twins outfielder, has been suspended for 80 games, for testing positive for the synthetic anabolic steroid, Epitrenbolone. pic.twitter.com/4JeXLovVQi
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) January 9, 2026
After signing a one-year/$10 million deal with the Phillies last offseason, Kepler hit .216 with 18 home runs, 52 RBIs, 48 walks and a .691 OPS across 127 games in 2025. Kepler was a solid defender in both corner outfield spots — with some occasional looks in center field — and was useful in a platoon in right field with Nick Castellanos down the stretch of the regular season, but it was a pretty underwhelming overall season for him.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has said on multiple occasions this offseason that the team doesn't intend to re-sign Kepler, although that was seemingly related to plans to give Justin Crawford an extended look in 2026. There's no indication the Phillies had any idea this was coming.
Kepler — who will turn 33 in February — now faces an uncertain future, given that he won't be available to play until the second half of the 2026 regular season.
