As the MLB offseason unfolds, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ latest misstep in free agency may be cause for concern.
The team, which has long been in need of a reliable corner outfielder, watched as another affordable option slipped through their fingers.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently reported that Max Kepler, a former Minnesota Twins outfielder, has signed a one-year deal worth $10 million with the Philadelphia Phillies.
For the Pirates, this development highlights a growing issue with their offseason strategy, one that has the potential to leave them scrambling as spring training approaches.
Kepler, who struggled with injuries in 2024, including knee issues, was coming off a “prove-it” year.
Despite these setbacks, his numbers were still respectable: a .253 batting average, 24 home runs, and a .380 slugging percentage over 105 games.
Over his 10-year career with the Twins, Kepler accumulated 161 home runs and 508 RBIs, with a .237/.318/.429 slash line.
For the Pirates, he seemed like a solid fit—low-risk, high-reward, and capable of contributing in right field, a position that has been a major area of need for the team.
However, with Kepler now off the market, the Pirates are left without a clear solution for their right field vacancy.
While the Pirates may not have realistically been in the running for top-tier names like Juan Soto or Teoscar Hernández, Kepler’s affordable price tag made him a viable option.
His decision to join the Phillies instead of the Pirates raises serious questions about the team’s approach to roster building.
Given the Pirates’ clear need for a power-hitting outfielder, the fact that they couldn’t secure a player like Kepler is concerning.
This missed opportunity should serve as a wake-up call for the Pirates’ front office. As the offseason progresses, more options will disappear, and Pittsburgh could once again find itself entering the season with significant questions in the outfield—just as they did in the previous year.
At the very least, the Pirates should be aggressively pursuing trade options to fill the void. The team has shown it can spend on high-profile relievers, such as when they committed $10.5 million to Aroldis Chapman last offseason, but they haven’t been willing to make a similar commitment to addressing their offensive needs.
The Pirates’ inability to secure even a relatively affordable option like Kepler is a worrying sign. If they fail to act quickly, they risk falling behind in a competitive NL Central division, where outfield production could be a key differentiator.
As the clock ticks down to spring training, Pittsburgh must make addressing its lineup a top priority, or they could find themselves left with too many holes to fill before the season starts.
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