The Philadelphia Phillies signed outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year deal with his physical pending on December 19, Phillies beat writer for MLB.com Todd Zolecki reported.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Kepler’s contract with the Phillies is worth $10 million.
Outfielder Max Kepler and the Philadlephia Philies are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal, which is pending a physical, will give the Phillies a new corner outfielder in the 31-year-old Kepler. First on the scene: @Feinsand/@ToddZolecki.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 20, 2024
Kepler, 31, was born in Berlin, Germany, and has played 10 seasons, all with the Minnesota Twins since the 2015 regular season.
The left-handed hitter last season played in 105 games and batted .253 with 399 plate appearances, rocking 93 hits, 21 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 42 RBI, 22 walks, 80 strikeouts, and a .682 OPS after Minnesota ended the year in fourth place in the American League Central Division with their record at 82-80 under manager Rocco Baldelli.
In Minneapolis during the 2024 season, Kepler played in right field in 103 games and started in 88, through 806.1 innings, with 176 chances, 172 putouts, four assists, no errors, and turned one double play.
During the 2023 season, Kepler played in 130 games with 491 plate appearances, hitting .260, slugging 114 hits, 22 doubles, 24 home runs, 66 RBI, 45 walks, 106 strikeouts, and a .816 OPS.
Kepler, once his physical is cleared, will be one of seven left-handed sluggers listed on Philadelphia’s depth chart with Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, Bryson Stott, Bryce Harper, Garrett Stubbs, and Kody Clemens going into the Grapefruit League season.
Last season, the Phillies went 95-67 and won the National League East Division title under manager Rob Thompson in the franchise’s 142nd season.
Philadelphia lost to the New York Mets in the NL Division Series in four games during the 2024 postseason.
Kepler’s 10 seasons in Minnesota consisted of him playing in 1,072 games with a 20.7 WAR in 4,251 plate appearances, batting .237, ripping 893 hits, 205 doubles, 16 triples, 161 home runs, 508 RBI, 35 stolen bases, 412 walks, 789 strikeouts, and a .746 OPS.
The Phillies will play their first spring training game on the road against the Detroit Tigers at 1:05 p.m. EST on February 22 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.
Philadelphia will open up the 2025 regular season on the road against the Washington Nationals on March 27 at 4:05 p.m. EDT.
