Max Kepler

[C-Gangster]

I just read a very sad article

https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/max-kepler-career-over/

😭

[RpR]

That is an opinion, noting more.

Next spring FO will determine who goes and who stays, not fans opinions.

[C-Gangster]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

That is an opinion, noting more.

Next spring FO will determine who goes and who stays, not fans opinions.

Ik but the chances are still pretty low )-:

[howeda7]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

That is an opinion, noting more.

Next spring FO will determine who goes and who stays, not fans opinions.

He's a free agent on a team with payroll restraints and several younger, cheaper, better options to play corner OF. There is virtually zero chance he's back next year. It's not some coin flip.

[Schmoeman5]

22 hours ago, RpR said:

That is an opinion, noting more.

Next spring FO will determine who goes and who stays, not fans opinions.

Really? What kind of offer do you see the Twins making to keep Kepler?Do you think Max would accept some low-ball offer because he loves Minnesota so much? Everyone knows how much you love him. You thumbs down any and all comments that pertain to him in a negative light. He's not the same player he was and he's not going to play for free. The only way he's back is if not one of the other 29 teams has an interest in him. I'm not saying he wouldn't make a good depth piece. But the Twins aren't paying 10-12 million for a depth piece.

[Twodogs]

I think it's probably best for Max Kepler that he gets a make it break it opportunity elsewhere.  I think if he ends up in the right situation he could give himself a chance to shine.  I mean look at Rooker? You think he hits darn near 40 bombs if he didn't get an opportunity elsewhere?  Had he stayed with the Twins he's at best a platoon player, probably out of baseball.  But got an opportunity elsewhere.  Maybe Kepler gets a shot somewhere else and hits 25 bombs again?  I like him as a player and I like to see former Twins players do well, like Arraez, Rooker, Wade, etc.....  My thinking is good luck to Max Kepler on your new journey.  Hope he does great, except against the Twins.  

[twinfan]

Max will play the field but would want to return here if the deal is right. He still has reasonable value to make 6-7 million a year but may not get that good a deal. Lots will depend on what happens in other areas on our team but there are a few teams who should offer about 4-5 mill for a couple of years.

[Twodogs]

16 hours ago, twinfan said:

Max will play the field but would want to return here if the deal is right. He still has reasonable value to make 6-7 million a year but may not get that good a deal. Lots will depend on what happens in other areas on our team but there are a few teams who should offer about 4-5 mill for a couple of years.

I think the main or at least first issue is that the Twins will probably cut payroll again.  So 6 mill for Kepler when you have Buck, Wallner, Larnach, Martin, Castro, Kirraloff, and with a few new guys in the minors Rodriguez, Kiersey, Hellman all possibilities, they have inexpensive ways to replace Kepler.  

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Will be sad to see Max go. The only player (along with Buck) left from the Bomba Squad. 

Coming off a down season that featured a potentially lingering injury, I don't think his contract would be prohibitive even for a Twins' team that will want to add significant payroll. But, Max on the team takes away playing time from Larnach, Wallner and potentially Rodriguez.

All good things come to an end and that's the case with Max. Will miss his steady hand in RF - was never an adventure out there for him and he made the hard plays look easy. Wish him well wherever his next stop is.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Will be sad to see Max go. The only player left from the Bomba Squad. 

Coming off a down season that featured a potentially lingering injury, I don't think his contract would be prohibitive even for a Twins' team that will want to add significant payroll. But, Max on the team takes away playing time from Larnach, Wallner and potentially Rodriguez.

All good things come to an end and that's the case with Max. Will miss his steady hand in RF - was never an adventure out there for him and he made the hard plays look easy. Wish him well wherever his next stop is.

Buxton was on the 2019 Twins

[Mike Sixel]

Good luck to him on his new team. I can't see any way he's back, and I'm not sure he should be at this point. 

[2wins87]

On 9/29/2024 at 8:56 AM, twinfan said:

Max will play the field but would want to return here if the deal is right. He still has reasonable value to make 6-7 million a year but may not get that good a deal. Lots will depend on what happens in other areas on our team but there are a few teams who should offer about 4-5 mill for a couple of years.

I haven't really looked into the free agent market at all yet, but I think there's a good chance he gets significantly better offers than even 6-7 mil per year.  That's Hunter Renfroe and Joey Gallo territory from last year's market.

For the Twins, I think biggest issue is that he might not fill the role they really need.  Which is someone who can play CF as well as either corner, and probably preferably hit right handed.

Kepler should be able to play right field, as well as CF in a pinch, but he's always preferred the comfort of just a single position.  Negotiating a FA deal, he won't be in a position to say "I only play right field", so he will probably adapt, but I fear that if he re-signed with the Twins he would expect to be able to just play RF again, and that's not the role he needs to fill on the team anymore.  Maybe talking with other teams would at least help him realize that, but his positional inflexibility is his main drawback to me.

I would guess that they will have another idea of how to fill out the roster at any rate, and will want the payroll flexibility from him coming off the books to do it.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

6 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Buxton was on the 2019 Twins

My bad. Forgot about Buck!