Arizona Diamondbacks designate Max Kepler for assignment

The Arizona Diamondbacks have designated outfielder Max Kepler for assignment. To fill the roster vacancy, the team has recalled catcher Adrian Del Castillo from Triple-A Reno.

Kepler, 33, joined Arizona in early June on a major league deal following an 80-game suspension. His tenure with the team saw a significant decline in production; in 41 games, he posted a .205/.262/.303 slash line with only two home runs. Since 2024, Kepler has struggled across stints with the Twins, Phillies, and Diamondbacks, recording just 1.0 fWAR over 1,018 plate appearances.

As Kepler is expected to clear waivers and potentially elect free agency, several teams in playoff contention could potentially pursue him. Potential landing spots include the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox, all of whom face depth or injury issues in their lineups.