PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies have reached an agreement with outfielder Max Kepler on a one-year contract worth $10 million, and he is anticipated to take on the role of the starting left fielder for the upcoming season.
Kepler, who has dedicated the entirety of his 10-year career to the Minnesota Twins, has played in 1,072 games, achieving a batting average of .237, along with 161 home runs and 508 RBIs.
Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, emphasized the team’s commitment to giving Kepler the opportunity to play regularly in left field. “We believe he can handle it,” Dombrowski stated.
The previous season saw Kepler struggle with injuries, resulting in only eight home runs and 42 RBIs throughout 2024. Dombrowski mentioned that Kepler underwent core surgery to fix a sports hernia, which, coupled with left patellar tendinitis, restricted him to just 105 games last year.
“Max was very upfront. He mentioned, ‘I don’t want to make excuses,’” said Dombrowski. “However, he was affected by it. Playing with that injury is quite challenging.”
In his career at Citizens Bank Park, Kepler has played six games and has been impressive, hitting four home runs and achieving a .955 slugging percentage in 23 plate appearances. The Twins initially signed him as a teenager from Germany.
With Kepler as their left fielder, the Phillies will retain Nick Castellanos in right field while Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas will serve as the center fielders. “It seems more practical to keep Nick in right field and allow him to settle in there,” Dombrowski noted. “We believe Max will adjust smoothly and is eager to do so.”
The Phillies have had a relatively quiet offseason following their victory in the NL East and subsequent exit in the playoffs to the Mets during the NL Division Series. Their only notable move besides Kepler has been signing closer Jordan Romano to a one-year contract worth $8.5 million.
Romano, an All-Star selection for both 2022 and 2023, spent his first six seasons playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, amassing 105 saves and maintaining a 2.90 ERA across 231 relief outings.
With one of the most substantial payrolls in the league, Dombrowski suggested that significant player acquisitions are not likely before next season. “I would be surprised if we engaged in any impactful free-agent signings offensively,” he commented. “While I don’t want to say we’re on a tight budget, it’s important to maintain a sensible approach. Our payroll exceeds $300 million, and adding anyone major has significant implications.”
What are the team’s next steps? Dombrowski indicated that the Phillies might look to secure a potential fifth starter who could also pitch out of the bullpen. “We will keep our options open,” he affirmed.