Phillies To Sign Outfielder Max Kepler to One-Year Deal

The Phillies and outfielder Max Kepler have agreed to a one-year/$10 million deal pending a physical, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Todd Zolecki and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com were the first to report that the two sides were working on a deal. 

Kepler's career has been something of a mixed bag, which makes him an interesting signing, particularly with quite a few other outfielders still on the market. 

He looked like one of the sport's emerging stars in 2019, when in his age-26 season he hit 36 home runs, drove in 90 runs and posted an .855 OPS. 

But between 2020 and 2022, Kepler hit 37 total home runs with just a .705 OPS. 

To his credit, Kepler rebounded in 2023, hitting .260 with 24 home runs, 66 RBIs and an .816 OPS. 

However, a right knee contusion and left patellar tendinitis which turned into left hip discomfort limited him to only 105 games for the Twins this past season. He wasn't particularly effective at the plate over that stretch, posting a .682 OPS. 

Max Kepler has hit 13 lead-off home runs for the #MNTwins in his career. The first of those came against Zach Eflin in 2019. pic.twitter.com/YLpNThoczr

— Twins Dingers (@TwinsDingers) October 29, 2022

Kepler has historically been a very good right fielder, with 48 defensive runs saved and 57 outs above average on his career resume. He's never played left field, although it's fair to wonder if he'll do so in 2025 given that Nick Castellanos is comfortable in right field. Some combination of Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas will be in center field most likely. 

It is a bit surprising that the Phillies signed a left-handed hitter to fill their outfield void. He'll join a lineup that also includes Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott hitting from that side. It also likely means that Marsh's time will be limited in left field, where he's graded out better defensively than center. Unless Kepler flops, what's the scenario where Marsh would start over him in left field? 

This marks the second notable signing that the Phillies have made this offseason, and both have come with veterans coming off of injuries. The Phillies inked reliever Jordan Romano to a one-year/$8.5 million deal earlier this month. Both have performed at All-Star calibers earlier in their careers. But the Phillies are definitely taking a risk banking on their health as they try to get over the hump and win a World Series in 2025. 

Read More Phillies Content At On Pattison

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3. Ahead Of Contract Year, Ranger Suárez Hires Scott Boras
4. Ken Rosenthal On Alec Bohm: 'I Would Expect He Will Not Be On The Phillies' In 2025
5. After MLB Winter Meetings, What Is The Projected Payroll Of The Phillies In 2025? 
6. Phillies Reportedly Asked For Mason Miller When A's Called On Alec Bohm
7. Report: Phillies Offered Aidan Miller And Justin Crawford For Garrett Crochet In July, Balked At Doing The Same In December
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9. Cryptic Jeff Hoffman IG Post Doesn't Look Good For Phillies
10. Jordan Romano Says Pitching In Front Of A Packed CBP On Wednesday Afternoon Made Phillies Attractive

Has the #Phillies offseason to this point been disappointing? Yes. 

Do the Phillies still have the best roster in the NL East right now? Probably.  

On the need for nuance: 

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— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) December 18, 2024 at 1:02 PM