In their most recent offseason move, the Philadelphia Phillies inked veteran outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal earlier this week.
This has been a relatively slow winter for the defending National League East champs to this point. One of the goals heading into the offseason was to add an outfielder and it seems that the Phillies have found their match.
One of the biggest questions after the signing was where would the new addition play defensively? With his primary position occupied by Nick Castellanos, the Phillies have stated that Kepler will try his hand in left field (paid subscription) in 2025, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.
Phillies make it clear where Max Kepler will play next year
What makes this decision interesting is that Kepler has never played left field over the course of his 10-year career. The Phillies' new left fielder has only played right field since 2021 when he played some center field as well with his former club, the Minnesota Twins.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made it clear that Kepler was aware of his move to the other side of the outfield before signing with his new club. He believes that the transition will be seamless for Kepler.
Todd Zolecki and Paul Casella, both of MLB.com, noted Dombrowski's confidence in Kepler's ability to shift positions.
“He is a good outfielder. He reacts well to the ball,” Dombrowski said. "There's a little bit of adjustment with how the ball comes off the bat to left field, but we talked to Max and it's an easy adjustment, he feels, for him.”
Kepler has been a solid defensive player over the course of his career. It will be easier for him to move than Castellanos — who has gotten comfortable in right field in Philadelphia.
The numbers back up Kepler's defensive prowess. Out of 39 qualified outfielders, the 31-year-old ranks third in defensive runs saved and first in outs above average from 2016-2024 according to FanGraphs. While Castellanos has improved defensively, it is not worth risking a drop-off in production with a position change.
The Phillies plan on Kepler playing almost every day. If he stays healthy — a task that has not always been easy for him — he will get a majority of the starts in left field. That leaves a potential platoon situation for Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas in center field next season.
It remains to be seen how productive of a signing Kepler will be. If he stays healthy, he could be an addition that pays off for the Phillies. He does not chase as much as some other hitters on the roster and could shuffle some things around in Rob Thomson's lineup.
While he may not have been at the top of the free agent wish list, he is an affordable and viable option for a club looking for outfield help.