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Mariners Asked About Max Kepler In Trade Talks With Twins

By Darragh McDonald | January 31, 2024 at 5:40pm CDT

The Mariners and Twins recently got together on a trade that sent infielder Jorge Polanco to Seattle, with a four-player package heading the other way. Today, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports that the M’s asked about a larger deal that would have also involved outfielder Max Kepler, though that particular line of discussion wasn’t fruitful.

Though the talks didn’t yield results, it seems to suggest that the Mariners still have some appetite for another move to further change their outfield mix. Since last year, they have lost Teoscar Hernández and Jarred Kelenic, the former reaching free agency and signing with the Dodgers while the latter was traded to Atlanta. The M’s replaced those two by acquiring old friend Mitch Haniger from the Giants as well as Luke Raley from the Rays. On paper, those two would slot into the regular outfield alongside Julio Rodríguez.

There would be some logic to adding to that group. Due to some injuries and the shortened 2020 season, Haniger has only played more than 63 games in a season on three occasions. The past two years have each seen him finish with around 60 games played, missing time due to a right high ankle sprain, a left oblique strain, a right forearm fracture and a low back strain. He’s generally been able to post good results even when battling injuries but 2023 was a struggle. He hit .209/.266/.365 for a wRC+ of 73, his first season of subpar offensive production since his 2016 debut.

Giving Haniger plenty of time in the designated hitter slot would be a logical plan in a vacuum but likely isn’t feasible for the M’s with the current roster construction. They signed catcher Mitch Garver to a two-year, $24MM deal last month, but he figures to DH on an everyday basis or something close to it, with Cal Raleigh behind the plate most days. An injury could always change things but Haniger is currently projected for a regular role in the outfield.

As for Raley, his 2023 was strong overall but ended on a down note. He hit .268/.357/.533 through the end of July while striking out in 29.8% of his plate appearances. From the start of August until the end of the season, his line was just .200/.270/.380 with a 36% strikeout rate. The combined work for the year was still well above average, 130 wRC+, but the overall track record is limited. He’ll turn 30 years old next year and has played one good MLB season, which still came with concerning elements.

The Mariners also have a batch of depth outfielders in the mix, including Taylor Trammell, Cade Marlowe, Dominic Canzone, Zach DeLoach and Jonatan Clase, but their interest in Kepler suggests they would consider another addition under the right circumstances. The free agent market still has Cody Bellinger, though it’s hard to envision the M’s giving out a mega deal to a player like that since they have had notable budget limitations this offseason. More plausible options would include Michael A. Taylor, Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham or Eddie Rosario. The trade market could feature guys like Alec Burleson, Randy Arozarena or Seth Brown.

Seattle’s president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has suggested that the 2024 club will have a higher payroll than last year’s $140MM figure, but uncertainty around the broadcast revenue situation might limit them to a modest increase. Roster Resource currently has them at $135MM, meaning Kepler’s $10MM salary would have pushed them to $145MM.

For the Twins, perhaps they weren’t as open to dealing Kepler as they were with Polanco. While the latter was getting squeezed out of a crowded infield picture, Kepler could still play an important role with the 2024 club. He had a bounceback season at the plate last year, hitting 24 home runs and slashing .260/.332/.484 for a wRC+ of 124. He also provided above-average defense in right field, as he has done for many years.

He figures to continue in that role in 2024, with Byron Buxton hopefully playing center field again. Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach could be lined up next to Kepler and Buxton, with players like Willi Castro, Nick Gordon, Austin Martin and Bubba Thompson perhaps in the mix as well.

Kepler has been a speculative trade candidate due to the fact that the Twins are looking to cut payroll, while he’s making $10MM and an impending free agent. But after the Polanco deal, the club is down to about $118MM in spending commitments, according to Roster Resource. They are reportedly looking to get into the $125MM-140MM range so don’t really need to shed any more money unless they pivot to some kind of blockbuster signing, which perhaps will keep Kepler in Minnesota for the upcoming campaign.

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Minnesota Twins Seattle Mariners Max Kepler

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View Comments (47)
Post a Comment

47 Comments

  1. Chuck from Uniontown

    1 year ago

    Cmon Mariners, you know you want Connor Joe.

    1
    Reply
    • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

      1 year ago

      This isn’t Mad Max, its Mild Max

      4
      Reply
    • User 3044878754

      1 year ago

      NO ONE cares about the Twins

      2
      Reply
      • jeppeson

        1 year ago

        Wrong

        Reply
      • Bustedstuff88

        1 year ago

        Ok idiot

        Reply
      • david letterman

        1 year ago

        You* don’t care about the Twins

        Reply
  2. Liberalsteve

    1 year ago

    My 5 best teams in 2024.In no order
    Dodgers
    Tigers
    Braves
    Mariners
    Reds

    Just remember where you heard it first

    10
    Reply
    • In nurse follars

      1 year ago

      Who wins the al east?

      Reply
      • Liberalsteve

        1 year ago

        Baltimore. The 6th best team. Tampa,Boston lose 85+ games

        3
        Reply
    • queenie

      1 year ago

      Opinions are like a*&**holes. Everyone has one.

      5
      Reply
    • Heels On The Field

      1 year ago

      I’m stumped.

      Best at what?

      2
      Reply
    • Ezpkns34

      1 year ago

      first and last

      Reply
  3. Fred Park

    1 year ago

    I give up. Actually. Truly. I mean it.

    I already ate crow on this issue once, and it tastes horrible.

    I quit.

    1
    Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      1 year ago

      No, don’t quit Mr Park. This is a good indication that the Mariners aren’t done augmenting the roster. This is a good thing!! Happy happy Joy Joy. Smile Mr Park!

      2
      Reply
  4. bob9988 2

    1 year ago

    I think the crown jewel left is to pay the Sox what they want for Robert Jr. This is my hope that maybe they are still looking. If the Ms didn’t stupidly hang themselves with this payroll restriction, I’d say give them Miller and sign Blake Snell to replace him. But whatever, I can still dream.

    4
    Reply
    • Canuckleball

      1 year ago

      Miller and how many other pieces for Robert Jr. Miller alone would not be nearly enough

      2
      Reply
      • bob9988 2

        1 year ago

        Oh, it would be a pretty penny for sure. Miller, Ford, and Young for sure. At least one more top ten guy, at least.

        Reply
    • mlb fan

      1 year ago

      “I think the crown jewel”…I tend to agree. The M’s are one of few teams that have the trade assets to aquire a Luis Robert. I’m a bit sick of some of these half as* Mariner moves, to acquire Rojas/ Urias filler types instead of the one premium, accomplished hitter they really need. They trimmed quite a bit of salary(Robbie R./ Suarez & others)so there’s no reason they cannot afford Roberts and still be well under last years payroll.

      6
      Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      1 year ago

      Mariners trading for Cease and Robert Jr. Just don’t know who is going back. That would likely be an “all-in” move and require a prohibitive amount of young players , but we’ll see.

      3
      Reply
      • yeasties

        1 year ago

        Do you not remember Dipoto’s trainwreck of an end of season interview? The Mariners do the fans a favor by never going all in.

        Reply
      • mlb fan

        1 year ago

        “Mariners trading for Cease”…Trading for both Cease and Robert’s would be cost prohibitive and likely gut the entire farm and weaken the current Major League pitching staff. The Mariners have enough pitching(Imo Kirby, Castillo & possibly Gilbert are better than Cease anyway), so why not go after what’s really kept them out of the playoffs, another +hitter, like Luis Roberts?

        1
        Reply
    • MarinerSteve

      1 year ago

      Giving up Miller, ford, young etc is too many young talents

      3
      Reply
  5. superunclea

    1 year ago

    Austin Martin link might be wrong. Not sure he’s that unknown.

    4
    Reply
    • TurnOffTheTV

      1 year ago

      It is wrong.

      1
      Reply
  6. slydevil

    1 year ago

    He found his swing again last year, so I’m guessing his price is high. Also, no one in the MLB can defend that tricky right side at target field as well as him by a long shot.

    As a fan, if they can get an overpay or decide to hold on to him, it’s okay. Don’t just move him to clear space for prospects.

    5
    Reply
  7. TennVol

    1 year ago

    Jays have always been a very good fit for Kepler. Surprised it didn’t happen with a trade that might have looked like Kepler for Kikucci. Each on 1yr contracts. Both high needs for the other team.

    Reply
    • Canuckleball

      1 year ago

      Also, both are costing 10 million in the last year, so they do match up quite well.

      I don’t think the Twins would have seen Kikuchi as holding the same value as Kepler though

      2
      Reply
  8. n2thecards

    1 year ago

    DeLoach looks ready after a full season at AAA with good numbers. He’s only 25.

    Reply
  9. McGrundle

    1 year ago

    I remember when guys like Rob Ducey and Russ Davis batted 8th and 9th. They’d hit in the middle of this lineup.

    1
    Reply
  10. TheHighCheese4Me

    1 year ago

    They paid enough for Polonco, that Kepler should have come with not much more than another prospect from A ball. And not off the top 100 list. Not that he’s a guarantee to get them to the promised land.
    LRJ is a pipe dream. And the M’s don’t dream that big.

    1
    Reply
  11. Contracts

    1 year ago

    DiPoto and Cease… two things you love to hear

    Reply
  12. Herc33

    1 year ago

    This has Padres written all over it. They need LH OF help and there’s not much left on the FA market.

    1
    Reply
  13. The Lou

    1 year ago

    Speculation here, but these talks don’t just come out of the blue. I’m sure they tested the waters on a larger deal earlier in the offseason but shifted their focus once they acquired Raley and Haniger.

    Reply
  14. LambchoP

    1 year ago

    I hope we keep Kepler. Unless we get a good SP in a trade then sign or trade for a replacement OF…

    1
    Reply
  15. drewtcomedy

    1 year ago

    Eddie Rosario makes a ton of sense. Mariners missing maybe one LH corner bat plus current lineup has some injury risk. Rosario, Polonco, Garver all came up together, so as long as they gel he deepens lineup.

    2B Polonco
    SS JP
    CF J Rod
    LF Rosario
    DH Garver
    C. Raliegh
    1B France
    RF Hanniger/ Raley
    3B Urias

    Reply
  16. User 1855579867

    1 year ago

    The M’s actually asked about Johannes Kepler, the astronomer with the wipeout slider.

    4
    Reply
    • Tacoboutahit

      1 year ago

      Reach for the stars dipoto

      1
      Reply
      • McGrundle

        1 year ago

        If he misses, he can end up in elliot bay.

        Reply
  17. just_breathe

    1 year ago

    Think it was actually keebler, of the fudge stripes fame

    2
    Reply
    • User 1855579867

      1 year ago

      Oh man those were good.

      1
      Reply
  18. hoof hearted

    1 year ago

    Burleson, Brown. Who came up with that? That’s a step backwards

    Reply
  19. cdouglas24000

    1 year ago

    Kepler should have been included in the Polanco trade. Topa and gabby gonzo alone are too much for 2b Polanco

    1
    Reply
  20. twins33

    1 year ago

    This isn’t surprising. The Twins need another OF right now WITH Kepler so if they subtracted him they would then need two. Polanco was always going to be the “easiest” to lose

    1
    Reply
  21. Bdd1967

    1 year ago

    It’s the Twins…you know they don’t want to win. It’s evident with all the departures from last years team. The more things change the more they stay the same.

    1
    Reply
    • Steve(shs22)

      1 year ago

      We had no choice but to cutt payroll

      You can thank the Yankees and Sinclair sports group for that.

      Reply
  22. bloomquist4hof

    1 year ago

    They could really use another established regular in the outfield and another higher leverage bullpen arm or two but would likely still be a solid team as is. Just not sure if its actually a playoff team as built especially with so much loss to the bullpen depth and the corner outfield spots projecting below average.

    Reply
  23. Win Cor

    1 year ago

    The best player for the Mariners to trade for is the Cardinals Alec Burleson. Great Bat to ball skills and getting better. Mariners need a guy that they can rely on not to whiff!

    Reply

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