Max Kepler: A Minnesota Twins Era Nearing Its End

2 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

Kepler has been a good member of the Twins organization.  Is he a superstar?  No.  But his career batting average is in line with Byron Buxton.  Yes the oft injured, seldom playing centerfielder is hitting a career .243 for 9 years.  Not much different than Keplar.  And Max plays a lot more.  

Of course, Buxton has a higher career OPS & OPS+, and despite playing 300 fewer games has a higher bWAR as well, as an even better defensive player at a more valuable and difficult position, since Kepler only played about 15% of his games at CF.

Part of the reason Kepler's tenure with the Twins may end with a mild disappointment from many fans is in the end his best ability was his availability.

Another part of the Kepler Reality is like many players his best years may have been 25-27, when he put up a 3.5, 4.0, and 1.0 (and if you project out that pandemic shortened year it lands around 3) bWAR, and his 30's could end up being a decline.

Really liked Keplers defense  , no question about that ....

the offense is another matter  , such a streaky hitter  with alot of walk off hits , that I'll remember  ...

Fans wanted him dfa'd  last year , but he changed everyone's mind after his second half resurgence  ,  he helped lead the twins to last years central division winner ...

6 hours ago, Craig Arko said:

I felt bad when I left Honeywell. I felt sorrow when I left 3M, after my Dad passed away. I was disappointed when I was laid off by PTC. But also, the change was both necessary and ultimately beneficial in all of these cases. Life happens; let it.

He’s not dying, just working for someone else.

Had to read this a couple of times. At first, I thought you meant you felt sorrow when you left $3 million. I was like. no. doubt. 

I moved from MN almost 20 years ago-forgot about 3M...but had relatives who worked there. 

3 hours ago, August J Gloop said:

It's like he didn't leave home to go live at summer baseball camp when he was 16 or something. There's no way that any person could ever change their mind about what they prioritize in life, just cuz they once loved it. Divorce never happens, so on, etc.  

What ever.

6 hours ago, USNMCPO said:

He is my wife's favorite player so watching Twins games next year should be loud in a not so good sort of way.

Kepler was Mom's favorite Twin, Mom would have been sad to have seen him go. Besides all the new faces she had difficulty to remember. Good luck Kep & thank you for your time with us & being Mom's favorite.

Gotta admire what he’s accomplished…especially given the path he had to forge. Special. 

Max has never been extremely passionate about baseball. It's like he sees it as his job, but not his life. It may be a job he well enjoys but he has even said he has had moments where it has caused him some mental health issues. Maybe he's willing to take a two year deal with a lower salary to stay here and then if he feels like two more years and he'll be ready to hang it up. Maybe moving elsewhere for two years isn't worth the hassle of uprooting his family. It would be great to see him end his career here. 

1 hour ago, BsuNemo said:

Max has never been extremely passionate about baseball.

From the Wiki:

At the age of six,  -- Kepler started baseball at the Little League level with the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin. Though he received a scholarship at age seven to the Steffi Graf Tennis Foundation, -  he decided to choose baseball. Kepler attended John F. Kennedy School, and the St. Emmeram Academy in Regensburg in 2008, where he was able to train in baseball more than the average American teenager.

He played association football with Hertha BSC,^[3] and played baseball for Buchbinder Legionäre Regensburg of the Bundesliga, the highest baseball league in Germany.

^{Seems he really cared about baseball.}

Have Larnach & Wallner REALLY passed him?  Probably. Maybe.  Will we feel differently a year from now when Larnach & Wallner don't have Kepler around and Kepler is playing somewhere else on a contract that by MLB standards is reasonably cheap.  Maybe.  Probably.

Great news for the Polhad's next year will have the whole outfield a revolving door just like left and center field.Everyone talking about his only good season with the bat being 2019 seem to forget.That year was the year that MLB cheated the fans with a juiced baseball.Every players numbers were up just like the PED era.The one thing that can be said is Max has been available to play RF way more often then not.He also has been a team guy until he did say he didn't want to fill in for Buxton anymore.If they fall short this year of the playoffs it may be awhile before they get there again.

I look at this as an opportunity. Max has been a good fielder but average to below average hitter especially right field. If the Twins want to score more runs or score more consistently then the corner outfield spots and first base are the places to improve. How or will they is a different question. I always had high hopes for Max as a hitter just because of that sweet swing. Guess there is more to hitting than having a sweet swing (see Kiriloff, Alex). I wish Max well and hope he has a good finish to his career. 

He had a good run. Time to make way for the guys coming up. Preferably with a WS win to close it out. TBD

We signed Gallo!   We signed Margot!  Kepler is better than both.  I would love to see us sign him as a fourth outfielder and pinch hitter for 2yr- 5M per.  Would he go for that?  Would we?  Would the Pohlads?  Max is class.  And this may be just sentimental.  In any case, best of luck to Max, whatever you do!