Phillies' Rob Thomson Makes Concerning Max Kepler Comments Amid Struggling Play

Phillies' Rob Thomson Makes Concerning Max Kepler Comments Amid Struggling Play originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

At the end of the day, Major League Baseball is a business, and managers have to ensure their teams have the best opportunity to win every day. 

For the Philadelphia Phillies, this has led to Rob Thomson making some interesting decisions, and he recently had to make another one over the weekend. 

During their Saturday game against the San Diego Padres, Thomson pinch-hit for Max Kepler. Kepler, who has been outspoken about him being a starter in Philadelphia, noting that the team guaranteed him that when they signed him, likely wasn't too happy about this. 

However, when speaking to reporters about the situation, Thomson admitted that they talked, and while he might not have been happy, he was fine with being pinch-hit for.

“We talked yesterday,” Thomson said, per Phillies Nation. “He was fine with being pinch hit for last night. I’m sure he’s not overly happy, but he was professional about it.” 

Now, given how poorly Kepler has played throughout the season, it's only fair to question if the Phillies will look to move on from him at the deadline. 

A team around the league likely won't want to take him, but they may designate him for assignment, considering he's on a one-year, $10 million contract.

When Thomson was asked about the future of Kepler, he noted that things aren't done yet, and he still has time to figure stuff out. 

While he's likely saying that he will not cause any issues in the clubhouse, it's also concerning that he might be in the Phillies' plans moving forward.

“It’s not over yet,” Thomson said about Kepler. “We’ve got a long ways to go. Things can change.” 

Related: Phillies Get Mets Update on All-Star Outfield Target

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.