The Arizona Diamondbacks have decided to sign outfielder Max Kepler of Berlin, Germany according to Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors. Considered as the best German-born hitter in Major League Baseball history, Kepler was suspended for the first 80 MLB games during the 2026 regular season for taking the banned substance Epitrenbolone.
The terms of the contract are for oner year and worth $780,000. That is the current minimum wage in MLB at the moment.
Kepler is joining his third Major League Baseball team. He spent a decade with the Minnesota Twins from 2015 to 2024, before one season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025.
The Diamondbacks are in need of some outfield depth. Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. of Sancti Spiritus, Cuba is out with left hamstring tightness and outfielder Jordan Lawlar of Carrollton, Texas has a broken wrist.
This past season with the Phillies, Kepler batted .216 with 18 home runs and 52 runs batted in. During 127 games, 417 at bats and 474 plate appearances with the Phillies in 2025, Kepler scored 58 runs and had 90 hits, 19 doubles, three stolen bases, 48 walks, 163 total bases, one sacrifice bunt, and four sacrifice flies, with an on base percentage of .300 and a slugging percentage of .391. The sacrifice bunt came in a 12-5 Phillies win over the New York Yankees on July 25.
Arizona is currently at 34 wins and 31 losses. They are tied with the San Diego Padres for second place in the National League West.
