Sat Dec 21 21:40:00 UTC 2024: **Phillies’ Offseason Moves Seemingly Complete After Kepler Signing**

Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies appear to have concluded their major offseason acquisitions, signing outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal. This follows the earlier signing of reliever Jordan Romano to a one-year, $8.5 million contract. Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski indicated that these two signings represent the team’s primary offseason additions.

Dombrowski praised Kepler’s selective hitting and bat-to-ball skills, traits he hopes will address the Phillies’ 2024 struggles with contact and chase rates. While Kepler had a down year in 2024 (.682 OPS, 94 wRC+), Dombrowski attributes this to a core muscle injury, now surgically repaired. The team is optimistic about Kepler’s return to form in 2025. Kepler will primarily play left field, a position new to him at the MLB level, though Dombrowski expressed confidence in his ability to adapt. His struggles against left-handed pitching remain a concern, however, potentially mitigated by the presence of right-handed hitters Weston Wilson and Johan Rojas on the roster.

Dombrowski emphasized that these signings were not “bargain bin” acquisitions but rather players the team specifically targeted, both of whom opted for one-year deals in hopes of boosting their market value for next year’s free agency. He also denied being under strict payroll constraints, although he indicated that significant additional free-agent signings are unlikely. The team’s payroll is still projected to rise to a franchise-record $280 million in 2025, largely due to Zack Wheeler’s recent contract extension.

Smaller additions to the roster remain a possibility, specifically a utility bench player and a swingman pitcher. Dombrowski suggested internal options are more likely for the bench position, while he indicated a preference for an external signing for the pitching role. He mentioned several internal candidates for the bench and Jakob Junis as a possible external option for pitching. The team also expressed continued interest in Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki but hasn’t yet been invited to further negotiations.

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