PHILADELPHIA – Max Kepler has rewarded the Phillies for their faith.
Kepler’s status on the major league roster was up in the air near the trade deadline. Philadelphia was looking for a new outfielder, partly because Kepler, signed to a one-year, $10 million deal, couldn’t get out of an extended slump. He finished June and July with an OPS below .600.
The Phillies ironically ended up with Harrison Bader, who essentially replaced Kepler in Minnesota. It appeared Bader was going to replace Kepler again.
That is until Rob Thomson gave Kepler another lifeline. He announced a six-day trial platoon in left and center field.