The Phillies have secured Max Kepler for their outfield but still need to make additional adjustments for the upcoming season
Philadelphia: The Phillies are making some moves this offseason. They just signed Max Kepler to a one-year deal worth $10 million. This is a step in the right direction, but they still have some work to do in the outfield.
Kepler has been with the Twins for a decade, so he knows his stuff. He’s had some ups and downs, especially last season with injuries, but he’s got a solid track record. He’s hit over 160 home runs in his career, mostly against right-handed pitchers.
With Kepler, Brandon Marsh, and Nick Castellanos, the Phillies have a decent outfield against righties. But they might struggle against lefties, especially tough ones. They’ll need to find some platoon partners to fill those gaps.
Johan Rojas could step in for Marsh when facing a lefty, but they still need to figure out who will play left field in those matchups. Kepler’s past performance shows he can be a strong defender in right field, which is where he’ll likely play.
It’s interesting to see how Castellanos will adjust if he’s in left field. He hasn’t played there much since joining the Phillies, so it’ll be a bit of a learning curve for him. The Phillies are hoping these moves will pay off without tying them down with long contracts.
Overall, the Kepler signing is a good start, but the Phillies still have some decisions to make as they prepare for the new season.