Twins deal with Joey Gallo opens the door for the Reds to swing a trade for Max Kepler

A name that has gained some steam in the trade circles of late has been Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler. After agreeing to a deal with free agent Joey Gallo, the efforts to trade Kepler may only intensify.

Gallo inked a one-year/$11M contract with the Twins and now, Minnesota has more outfielders than they know what to do with. While some can play on the infield as well, it's highly unlikely that Minnesota maintains an outfield of Kepler, Gallo, Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, and Royce Lewis just to name a few.

Kepler is entering the final guaranteed year of a $32M contract he signed earlier in his career. According to Spotrac, Kepler is owed $8.5M in 2023 and has a $10M club-option for the 2024 season.

The door is open for the Reds to swing a trade for Twins OF Max Kepler.

With Max Kepler being a left-handed batter, it may not be the most ideal fit for the Cincinnati Reds, but beggars can't be choosers. Cincinnati needs reinforcements in the outfield, and the most likely way for the Reds to find someone of value may be via trade.

The Reds are highly unlikely to add an outfielder in free agency that would be little more than a stop-gap option. Cincinnati could also wait the market as they did last spring and find a player, like Tommy Pham, who would agree to a one-year contract.

Kepler would be a fine right fielder for the Reds in 2023, though his last two seasons have not be as productive as the 29-year-old would have liked. After posting a combined OPS of .831 in 2019 and 2020, the past two seasons saw Kepler's OPS drop to .694.

If the season were to start tomorrow, Cincinnati's outfield would likely consist of Nick Senzel, Jake Fraley, and TJ Friedl. That said, Senzel is coming off toe surgery and is still in a walking boot. The Reds also have Nick Solak and Stuart Fairchild on the 40-man roster.

The Cincinnati Reds should at least kick the tires on a potential trade for Max Kepler with the Minnesota Twins. The front office needs to turn over any and every stone that would help bolster their outfield in 2023.