Fansided

5 players the Minnesota Twins should trade to complete their fire sale

By Brad Berreman

Jun 12, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Taylor Rogers (55) throws against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Taylor Rogers (55) throws against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

. Max Kepler. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OF, Twins. 2. 2.

Over the last two seasons, since a breakout 2019 as part of the “Bomba Squad” (36 home runs, 90 RBI, .519 slugging percentage, .855 OPS), Kepler is hitting .223/.314/.448 with 21 home runs over 452 plate appearances. But in July (17 games entering Friday), he has six home runs and a .982 OPS over 64 plate appearances. Overall this season, his hard hit rate (according to Baseball Reference) is at his 2019 level (and a career-best). According to Statcast, he’s in the 75th percentile or better in hard hit rate, average exit velocity, max exit velocity and barrel rate this season.

2019 Hard Hit Rate: 47.2%
2021 Hard Hit Rate: 47.4%

Kepler is a versatile outfielder, able to play both corners well and centerfield capably as it’s been needed when Buxton misses time every year. FanGraphs has ranked him as a top-45 most valuable trade deadline asset in baseball each of the last two years.

The Twins may consider Kepler off-limits in trade talks, since he’s under contract through 2023 with a club option for 2024. But that would be a foolish stance to take on anyone at this point, and any seriously optimistic view of Kepler’s future feels like a low-percentage chance projection as he moves toward 30 years old (28 right now).

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