MLB Rumors: Yankees trading for Max Kepler from Twins makes too much sense
The New York Yankees are going to have to make noise at the MLB Trade Deadline if they want to feel confident in the playoff hunt. Yes, the club is on the verge of getting healthier with Aaron Judge returning sometime relatively soon, Carlos Rodon on his way back, and so on.
While that may be true, the fact of the matter is the roster remains imperfect. Judge’s stint on the IL has only amplified that, specifically the lack of options for a reliable left fielder as the offense has fallen off a cliff since the slugger suffered a toe injury crashing through the right-field wall at Dodger Stadium.
Billy McKinney, admittedly, has been a pleasant surprise. But for a player with a .212 career batting average, banking on that in the face of the trade deadline would be a fool’s errand. But who would make sense? How about Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler?
Kepler has been part of trade rumors since last year and now he’s in the final guaranteed year of his contract with a $10 million club option remaining for the 2024 season.
Now, to be sure, the offensive numbers if you transfer them to the Yankees aren’t going to help New York. In fact, they would be part of the problem with Kepler hitting just .201 with a .674 OPS on the season. That’s not what New York is looking for, even remotely.
The key factor, though, is that the 30-year-old Kepler is a classic candidate for a player who can recapture his better form on a new team by way of trade. From 2016-2021, he didn’t post an OPS lower than 7.19 and accrued at least 2.1 WAR in every season except for the shortened 2020 campaign. He also posted a career-best 36 homers, 32 doubles and 90 RBI in the 2019 season.
Given his production this season, the cost could be low enough for Brian Cashman to bite on a deal to try and help the outfield and the offense in the Bronx. As such, it’s something the Yankees should definitely be already exploring.