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Report: Maxwell may never play in MLB again after anthem kneel

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Former Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, the only player to take a knee during the national anthem, may never play for a major-league team again, sources told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Even though the soon-to-be 28-year-old was arrested on assault and gun charges in October 2017, a major-league executive said it's his kneeling that might keep him off a major-league field.

"Owners aren't going to want to deal with that whole anthem issue," the executive explained.

On Sept. 23, 2017, Maxwell became the first MLB player to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

Maxwell only appeared in 18 regular-season games for the A's in 2018 after coming into spring training out of shape. He wound up hitting .182/.207/.309 and was designated for assignment in September.

"I just don't see him as a fit for us," an NL scout said. "He's on the older side and there is too much baggage. He might have to play independent ball to try to work his way back."

In addition, Maxwell fired his agent, according to Slusser's sources.

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