Diamondbacks Ink One-Year Contract with Suspended Outfielder Max Kepler

The Arizona Diamondbacks have added veteran outfielder Max Kepler to their roster with a one-year agreement announced on Sunday, June 7. This move reflects the team's strategy to bolster their lineup with a left-handed hitter, a component that has been lacking in their offense.

Currently, Kepler is serving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance earlier this year. The suspension, which was made public in January, allows him to complete the 80 games while remaining a free agent, aligning his timeline with that of his previous team, the Philadelphia Phillies. As the Phillies reached their 65th game on Sunday, Kepler has 15 games left on his suspension, making him eligible to return on June 25. Before rejoining the major league roster, he can undertake a minor league rehab stint lasting up to 15 days.

Due to the suspension, Kepler is ineligible for postseason play. Reports indicate that he will earn a prorated share of the major league minimum salary, which equates to approximately half of $780,000. His addition could provide the offensive boost the Diamondbacks are seeking, especially as they approach the trade deadline.

Historically, Kepler has demonstrated a career OPS of .770 against right-handed pitchers, a figure that, while modest, is still an improvement over Adrian Del Castillo's current .638 OPS against righties this season. However, it is worth noting that Kepler's performance has declined in recent years, with OPS figures of .672 in 2024 and .704 in 2025 against right-handed pitching.

The Diamondbacks have generally been cautious about signing players with histories of PED suspensions, although they did acquire outfielder Starling Marte prior to the 2020 season, a few years after his own positive test in 2017.