after a poor spring training before the season, kline was designated for assignment on march 30 and was released on april 5. on april 10, 2008, kline signed a minor league contract with the philadelphia phillies and was assigned to their triple-a affiliate, the lehigh valley ironpigs. on june 9, 2008, kline was ejected from a game for making contact with an umpire; facing a fine and possible suspension, the phillies released kline two days later, on june 11, 2008.