The Philadelphia Phillies are halfway through the season. They’ve got one of the best rotations in baseball, and are in the thick of the NL East race. But the offense has gone quiet, and the outfield remains a problem.
Max Kepler, who was signed over the offseason on a one-year, $10 million deal, hasn’t lived up to initial expectations. Entering the week, he had sat four straight games before returning to the lineup Thursday in Houston — where he made three outs, misplayed a ball in the field, and afterward left a “misled” notion to the media about how the Phillies planned to use him.
“The biggest challenge for me is not playing routinely,” Kepler said after Thursday’s loss, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. “That’s the biggest challenge.”
Thee lack of stability at his position has clearly reached a breaking point.
“Yeah,” he said, “I was told I was going to be the starting left fielder.”
He’s started 60 of the first 81 games, but just three against left-handed pitching. That’s a tough fit in this outfield mix — especially when the production isn’t there. He’s slashing .209/.300/.383 with modest power and hasn’t done enough defensively to justify an everyday role.
Phillies’ Role Confusion
The Phillies expected him to be a steady contributor — maybe even a stabilizer in left field. Instead, he’s been a poor platoon fit, and the hoped-for upgrade never materialized. The team missed on a right-handed bat this winter and settled here. It hasn’t worked.
Thursday’s return was symbolic of the season so far: a slow double play with a lack of hustle, a called third strike, and a defensive miscue that led to the winning run. He bobbled a routine single and couldn’t recover in time to make a play at the plate.
“Triple-clutched it,” he said. “Not going to make excuses.”
The Phillies haven’t pulled the plug, but patience may be wearing thin. With a stretch of right-handed starters coming up, he’ll get another chance. But if the bat doesn’t heat up soon, the front office could pivot — as it did with Whit Merrifield last July.
One name to watch: Justin Crawford. The 21-year-old outfield prospect is hitting .336/.413/.441 at Triple-A. He doesn’t bring much power, but his contact skills and speed would bring a different dynamic to the lineup. There are questions about how his swing will translate, but he’s gaining momentum. Rob Thomson said he’s “absolutely” in the mix for a call-up.
Phillies Could Be Forced Into Trade Deadline Move
The offense needs more than just a spark. Bryce Harper has missed most of the past month. Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos, and J.T. Realmuto have all hovered around league average or worse. The Phillies have 83 home runs in 81 games — their lowest midseason total since 2017.
They’ve been outslugged often, and the trade deadline is approaching. If the internal options don’t step up soon, outside help becomes inevitable.
The $10 million spent isn’t the issue. It’s the lack of impact and a role that no longer makes much sense. The front office hoped it was buying a solid veteran fit. What it got instead has only validated the early doubts.
They can withstand it because of elite starting pitching. But if the goal is winning a division and making a run in October, the outfield needs to look different — and soon.
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