Phillies Sign OF Max Kepler To 1-Year Deal Worth $10 Million
It was clear last year that the Phillies needed to improve their OF. Even when they were winning, the pairing of Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas left a lot to be desired. They added Austin Hays to that mix, but injuries kept him off the field. It was their biggest need this offseason. The solution? Former Twins Outfielder Max Kepler.
Per Todd Zolecki, The Phillies signed Kepler to a 1-year deal worth $10 million. He is coming off a down year. He hit .253/.302/.380 with 21 doubles, eight home runs, and 42 RBIs in 105 games. The batting average was actually above his career norms, but his SLG was the 2nd lowest of his career.
That said, his 2023 season was fantastic. He hit 24 HRs and slashed .260/.332/.484/.816. He slugged over .400 in 7 of his 10 seasons. His best season came back in 2019 when he smacked 36 HRs, 32 2Bs, and slugged .519. But he has never reached those heights again.
Is Max Kepler The Phillies Answer?
His career mostly tells the story of an ok hitter. Not great, not bad. He represents an improvement over Brandon Marsh platooning with whatever righty bat they can find in left field, but he is not the impact bat most fans hoped for.
He does represent a clear improvement in the field though. He has mostly played RF, but his Outs Above Average of +58 since 2016, when he entered the league, leads all Right Fielders in that time. That great fielding helped him earn a career WAR of 20.7. He will likely be moving to leftfield, but Phillies fans should expect that high-level glove to carry over.
Kepler is a decent player. He will help them, even if he doesn’t bounce back to how he played in 2023. But is he the needle mover Phillies fans were hoping for? Will he help them keep up with The Dodgers?
It is worth pointing out they had the 2nd best record in the league last year. The way it ended was ugly, but it is already a very talented team. Especially the starting pitching. But the Mets and Dodgers both made big moves.
The Phillies have made two solid moves so far. Max Kepler and Jordan Romano are both low-risk moves, that can pay off. They will make the Phillies better. But it will likely leave fans hoping for a big splash disappointed.
Listen To Or Watch ‘The Best Show Ever?’ Live On The 97.5 The Fanatic And On NBC Sports Philly From 2 To 6 p.m. every Weekday
