Last year was the first year in recent memory where Max Kepler didn’t ruin at least one summer day for Cleveland Guardians fans.
While Kepler was still in MLB, the longtime Minnesota moved to the National League via a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies.
And it seems like Guardians fans won’t have to worry about Kepler in 2026, as the 32-year-old free agent outfielder was hit with an 80-game PED suspension on Saturday that will essentially end his 2026 campaign before it even began.
Although ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that he’ll still be able to serve the suspension even if he doesn’t sign with a club, he’s still ineligible to play in the 2026 postseason.