During the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies decided to bolster their outfield by signing Max Kepler. The two sides agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal, which was a good contract for a club that already had a large payroll coming into the season.
Kepler has been a decent addition this season, especially after getting hot at the plate in August. He has played in 124 games so far, hitting .217/.303/.387 with 17 home runs and 51 runs batted in.
However, that production might not be good enough for the team to chase Kepler in free agency and give him another deal. His time in Philadelphia could come to an end when the season closes.
Justin Crawford's rise complicates Max Kepler's future with the Phillies
During the 2022 MLB Draft, the Phillies selected outfielder Justin Crawford in the first round. Crawford had made a name for himself playing for powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.
He is currently the club's third-ranked prospect and is banging on the door to make his MLB debut. That Ball's Outta Here's Edward Eng argues with Crawford, and a likely Harrison Bader re-signing, Max Kepler could get the short end of the stick.
"With deadline addition Harrison Bader, whom they will likely try and re-sign, drawing rave reviews since his arrival in Philadelphia, along with top outfield prospect Justin Crawford knocking on the door for 2026, Kepler will likely be the odd man out going forward."
Kepler will likely have to find a new team to play for over the winter. Luckily for him, he has shown teams what he can do both offensively and defensively as of late and has the postseason to continue to increase his free agent stock.