The Philadelphia Phillies reportedly signed outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal late Thursday night.
Kepler spent a decade with the Minnesota Twins after signing as an international free agent from Germany in 2009. He has a career slash line of .237/.318/.429, hitting 161 home runs and driving in 508 runs.
The 31-year-old’s best season came in 2019, during the infamous juiced-ball season, when he set career highs in home runs (36) and RBI (90).
Kepler enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2023, leading the Twins with 24 homers and helping them clinch an American League Central title by batting .306 in the second half. Last season, he hit .253 with eight home runs, 21 doubles and 42 RBI in 105 games.
Kepler mostly keeps strikeouts to a minimum, with a career strikeout rate of 18.6%. (The league average is 22.2%.) He has an above-average walk rate of 9.7%, with the league average being 8.4%. Additionally, he’s a premium defender in the outfield.
However, his signing feels like more of the same for the Phillies: another gamble on a streaky power hitter, hoping he will return to form.
It’s debatable whether Kepler will immediately impact the team. He’s coming off a down year, in which patellar tendinitis prematurely ended his season on Sept. 5.
It also remains to be seen what role he will fulfill for the Phillies. Kepler isn’t typically a 150-game player, but $10 million for a bench bat seems like an overpay. This means he’ll likely platoon in right field, where he’s played 927 games, or in center field, where he’s played 159. But that doesn’t move the needle for Philadelphia.
The Phillies have had their fair share of outfield platoons recently, but none have worked well. So, although they added a new player to their roster, it feels a lot like running it back, especially if this is the only move they plan to make for a bat this winter.
When your division rival signs Juan Soto as its right fielder, you can’t only counter with Max Kepler. Philadelphia must keep its eye out for more impact bats this winter.