The Philadelphia Phillies have officially added outfielder Max Kepler to their roster, announcing his signing on Thursday.
Kepler, who spent a decade with the Minnesota Twins, inked a one-year, $10 million deal to step in as the team’s everyday left fielder. Notably, the 30-year-old has no prior experience in left field, having exclusively played right and center fields throughout his MLB career.
Kepler presents a potential comeback story for the Phillies. After being limited to 105 games last season due to knee and hip issues, he posted a modest .253/.302/.380 slash line, hitting eight home runs with a 91 OPS+ — slightly below average by MLB standards. Despite these struggles, Kepler showcased his power in 2023 with 24 home runs and has been a 2.0 WAR or better player in six of his 10 seasons.
The move caught some by surprise, as Kepler is a left-handed hitter, deviating from the Phillies’ perceived pursuit of a power-hitting corner outfielder. His addition shifts Brandon Marsh back to center field and keeps Nick Castellanos in right.
Dombrowski Hints at Financial Limits
Kepler’s signing pushes the Phillies’ 2025 payroll to $299 million, just $2 million shy of the fourth luxury-tax threshold. Crossing this limit would result in a staggering 110% tax penalty on every additional dollar spent. With the team already $18 million over the third luxury-tax threshold, owner John Middleton faces a 92.5% penalty on that excess, effectively raising the cost of Kepler’s $10 million deal to $19.25 million.
In light of these financial constraints, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has tempered expectations for further marquee signings.
“I’d be surprised if we pursued impactful offensive free agents,” Dombrowski stated, emphasizing the hefty penalties attached to every signing at this stage.
This news may not sit well with fans frustrated by the team’s offensive struggles in recent playoff runs. The Phillies’ lineup has been prone to slumps and frequently faltered under pressure, particularly chasing pitches outside the zone.
“Every signing at this point carries a major penalty,” Dombrowski explained, adding, “We’re very aware of that.”
Despite this cautious approach, Dombrowski expressed confidence in the current roster heading into 2025.
“If we entered spring training with this group, I’d feel comfortable,” he said, while also noting the team’s focus on finding rotational depth that could also support the bullpen.
Aiming for Redemption
The Phillies, fresh off their first NL East title since 2011, have seen their postseason performances regress over the past three years. As they prepare for the upcoming season, the organization remains determined to break through and bring a World Series title back to Philadelphia.
