Phillies add Max Kepler on 1-year-deal, but offseason picture remains incomplete

The Phillies person acted for illustration a squad seeking alteration each offseason — pursuing trades and engaging free agents successful the quest to shingle up a roster that won a section title but again fell short successful October. But, for now, they person been contented to use smaller tweaks.

They adhered to that strategy again Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $10 cardinal woody pinch outfielder Max Kepler, a lefty hitter who turns 32 successful February and has not accrued 500 sheet appearances successful a play since 2019. Kepler whitethorn beryllium the only important acquisition this offseason to a lineup that is talented but has been exposed astatine times.

The deal, according to major-league sources, is pending a beingness scheduled for Friday. MLB.com and ESPN first reported specifications of the agreement.

On the surface, it is simply a puzzling move by the Phillies. Kepler has not played a azygous inning of near section successful the majors. The Phillies person indicated to Kepler that is wherever he’ll play. He has not been durable aliases productive capable successful caller seasons to merit an mundane role. But by paying him $10 million, the Phillies person indicated they expect Kepler to beryllium much than a part-time player. He’s expected to look each righty starter and could play against lefties too.

Kepler batted .253/.302/.380 successful 399 sheet appearances past play pinch the Minnesota Twins, the statement that signed Kepler arsenic a teen retired of Germany. It was the worst play by OPS+ (91) of his career. The Phillies are betting that Kepler tin recapture his shape from a beardown 2023 play successful which he deed .260/.332/.484 pinch a 120 OPS+.

Kepler is considered an above-average defender, though champion suited for the area outfield spots.

He ended the 2024 play on the injured database pinch near patellar tendinitis.

Kepler has deed righties amended than lefties complete his career, which does not make him a imaginable platoon partner pinch Brandon Marsh. The Phillies, according to major-league sources, had shown immoderate liking successful Teoscar Hernández, considered the champion remaining free-agent outfielder. They settled for Kepler astatine a acold cheaper rate.

The Phillies, earlier this offseason, did not tender Austin Hays a contract erstwhile he would person made astir $7 cardinal done the net arbitration process. They judge they person upgraded that spot connected the roster pinch Kepler, but he’ll travel to Philadelphia pinch overmuch to prove.

If anything, the Kepler woody signals the Phillies will thin into mixing and matching again successful their outfield. Marsh figures to spot the mostly of clip successful center, while Johan Rojas could spell him against lefties. The Phillies could prosecute different reserve outfielder to brace pinch Kepler either done a low-cost free-agent signing aliases a trade.

The larger image of this muted Phillies offseason remains incomplete. The club, by adding Kepler’s $10 cardinal salary, presently has an estimated payroll adjacent $299 cardinal erstwhile calculated for luxury-tax purposes. That is the second-highest successful shot down only the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 4th (and highest) taxation tier is $301 million. The Phillies will beryllium going complete that number.

How acold complete remains to beryllium seen. The Phillies person not yet signed a subordinate to a multiyear woody this offseason. If they cannot find a waste and acquisition that opens a spot successful their lineup, they could pivot to different late-inning bullpen addition. Most of the top-tier bullpen free agents — Jeff Hoffman, Tanner Scott, Carlos Estévez and Kirby Yates — are still available. They person explored trades for different late-inning reliever — including Devin Williams, whom the Milwaukee Brewers dealt to the New York Yankees — but haven’t recovered a match.

It’s near the Phillies successful an uncomfortable spot. They person told rival teams and subordinate agents they want to make changes. They are carrying a monolithic payroll and aren’t consenting to aquatics successful the deepest free-agent waters. They person discovered tepid liking successful the players they are consenting to waste and acquisition away. They person been protective of their champion prospects.

So, they person turned to one-year upside bets. First, it was Jordan Romano successful the bullpen. Kepler’s fresh is little obvious.

(Photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)

Matt Gelb is simply a elder writer for The Athletic covering the Philadelphia Phillies. He has covered the squad since 2010 while astatine The Philadelphia Inquirer, including a yearlong region from shot arsenic a newsman connected the metropolis desk. He is simply a postgraduate of Syracuse University and Central Bucks High School West.