7 Potential Landing Spots for Max Kepler in Free Agency

I am going to miss Max, especially his defense.  I dread watching the Twins with Larnach and Wallner in the corners.  And when Buxton isn't in center, could get real ugly.  Crossing my fingers one of the young studs gets here soon.

I could see him going to the Royals or maybe the Blue Jays on a one year deal. We'll miss his defense in right field, but we can replace his offense with Wallner and Larnach. I just hope we sign a good RH outfielder who can play center field for Buxton. Castro can play left occasionally but I don't think Austin Martin is a good choice to play center. Keirsey can probably do a good job there but he's also a lefty.

Did I read that right  , buck showalter  is managing the Mets  , no way is Kepler a good fit with either new York teams  , he would fold under the pressure the fans expect  ...

Kepler would be a good fit with Oakland playing in a minor leagʻue stadium  , if he's a late spring signing for 5 million  ...

Toronto has needed left handed hitters for quite sometime  , we should have traded some of our lefties for some of their righties  , we still can ...

Colorado would work for Kepler ...

Tampa Bay is another possibility  as a cheap late spring signing , playing in a spring training facility ...

We'll just have to wait and see  ...

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

Spotrac MV 3yrs $31MM
ESPN Est. 2yrs $24MM
MLBTR = 1yr Below $8MM

Mets - It seems a popular speculation around here for 2024 Twins players who weren't good to end up in NY because the Mets can afford to spend, but the Mets can afford to spend on good players. Why would they spend on guys like Paddack or Kepler when they don't need to bottom feed?

Mariners - Already have a veteran corner OF in Arozarena. Can't see them choosing Kep over the cheaper, and just as good (or better) Victor Robles.

Rockies - Are cutting salary so I can't see them signing Kepler, though Coors would be a great place for Kepler to rebound.

Marlins - No idea about this club, but it doesn't feel like a good fit on the surface. Nobody wants to play for them, that much I'd bet money on. The owner, Bruce Sherman, is busy talking about tech and development expenditures and downplaying free agency. Historically, the Marlins are not free agent spenders. Their biggest FA contract ever was $53MM, and they've only handed out a $10MM+ contract 4 times in team history.

I think Kepler is going to have to settle for a 1 year deal to get into the $10MM+ AAV range. I think the Royals are a good candidate to sign him. The Royals need a corner OF with at least a league average bat, and they have some payroll flexibility. Kepler should rebound to a solid 2 WAR season and meet their needs.

I agree I think he will be signing a 1 year deal.  He has only been, for most of his career, an overall average hitter.  His numbers never lined up with his hit profile, but at this point it is what it is.  He is a good to great defender in RF, but aging.  He is getting hurt more often.  He either needs to chase the little money he can get left, or be willing to do a 1 year on a contending team as 4th OF or platoon type guy. 

42 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

buck showalter  is managing the Mets

Carlos Mendoza is the Mets manager

You’ve left off a bunch of Japanese teams. 

14 hours ago, Reptevia said:

You’ve left off a bunch of Japanese teams. 

Seriously, that may not be such an unlikely outcome for Max.

I think if anyone offers Max a 2 year deal he should jump on it. I doubt anyone is signing him expecting him to play an inning of CF at this point, either.

He should get an offer from someone; it's not like he can't play. But you're going to get a player who is inconsistent offensively, probably needs a platoon role, and will likely spend some time on the IL. He'd be a nice 4th OF...but I doubt he can adequately defend in CF at this point, so unless a team has another option for CF they're taking a risk there.

Wish him luck. Ended up with a bit of a strange career, where he always looked like he was going to be a star (big, strong, fast) but only rarely produced like one. In 9 seasons with the Twins he was an above-average offensive player 3 times. A zero-time all-star, and it's hard to really argue that he was screwed over there. Never a bad player, and usually a capable starter. Frustrating power outages. Good contact skills. 

It will be interesting to see what the league thinks of him.

I'm sure he'll get a bunch of minor league offers.  That's the maximum potential he has.  Contract always was an albatross

I would think if he's looking at a one-year contract, Colorado may be a good spot to rebuild his value if he's willing to gamble on himself.  He could always get spun off to a contender at deadline by the Rockies.  His Spotrac and ESPN values seems high to me.  He could make sense with the Yankees if Verdugo is gone (which he will be) and depending on what happens with Juan Soto.

He's not a better option than Starling Marte for the Mets.  San Diego and Houston don't seem like good fits.  It seems like the Giants would stick with Yastrezmski.  The Royals could be a fit.  The way Max has clobbered Cleveland pitching in his career, the Guardians may sign him just so they don't have to face him.  

I can't see the Marlins being interested.  And if I was Miami, for roughly the same money, I'd be more interested in Vasquez to handle my young pitching staff.  Miami has the worst catching situation in MLB.  If the money is near equal, I could see Miami being more interested in Vasquez in the right trade.  

23 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Carlos Mendoza is the Mets manager

I am aware of that but the OP  stated that Kepler would give Mets manager  showalter flexibility  ...

20 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I would think if he's looking at a one-year contract, Colorado may be a good spot to rebuild his value if he's willing to gamble on himself.  He could always get spun off to a contender at deadline by the Rockies.  His Spotrac and ESPN values seems high to me.  He could make sense with the Yankees if Verdugo is gone (which he will be) and depending on what happens with Juan Soto.

He's not a better option than Starling Marte for the Mets.  San Diego and Houston don't seem like good fits.  It seems like the Giants would stick with Yastrezmski.  The Royals could be a fit.  The way Max has clobbered Cleveland pitching in his career, the Guardians may sign him just so they don't have to face him.  

I can't see the Marlins being interested.  And if I was Miami, for roughly the same money, I'd be more interested in Vasquez to handle my young pitching staff.  Miami has the worst catching situation in MLB.  If the money is near equal, I could see Miami being more interested in Vasquez in the right trade.  

 

Rox seems like a good fit, many ex-Twins got a 2nd chance there & did well. I can see them signing him & he does well at Coors & then they trade him to a contender at the deadline for prospects. That seems to be their MO. MIA most certainly won't be interested because they are in a rebuild unless they get him dirt cheap & they could also flip him at the deadline for prospects. 

Personally I'd love to see him back as a great 4th OF would be the best Twins have had in recent memory. At 6-10m it's a bargain . But FO needs to acquire great off the bench players like Margot Farmer to keep up their egos. Maybe it's time to get someone involved near the top who has played or coached instead of read the computer print out of stats that are good until a new AI statcomes out next week.

On 12/2/2024 at 10:14 AM, Blyleven2011 said:

 

Toronto has needed left handed hitters for quite sometime  , we should have traded some of our lefties for some of their righties  , we still can ... 

Yes TOR was a great landing spot for one of our (LH) OFers in trade but again that ship has sailed. TOR has done a good job of restocking their OF with (LH) Ofers.

"Their outfield situation remains in flux, with injuries and underperformance plaguing the roster. Kepler’s ability to play all three outfield positions would give manager Rocco Baldelli flexibility—if Kepler is willing to spend some time in center field."  Amazing how much perspective ya get my merely changing two words in a sentence.

20 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

I am aware of that but the OP  stated that Kepler would give Mets manager  showalter flexibility  ...

Good point.  We COULD take that a step further and change that name to Rocco Baldelli and have the statement be just as true.