If Matt Kemp becomes available this winter, the Nationals would be interested in targeting him in a trade, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said a week ago that he wasn't shopping or looking to move Kemp, but that he'd listen to any trade offers that came his way.
Kemp, 26, is coming off a disappointing 2010 campaign in which he hit just .249/.310/.450 and was publicly questioned by a few members of the Dodgers organization. While he didn't formally ask for a trade, agent Dave Stewart told Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times in August, "I'm almost to the point — and maybe so are the Dodgers — where I'm thinking that this just isn't going to work."
In addition to seeing his offensive production decline, Kemp also took a step backward defensively, registering a -24.3 UZR, worst among outfielders. Still, he's just a year removed from a 2009 season that earned him a Gold Glove and MVP votes. As Kilgore notes, Washington's .720 outfield OPS was 25th in the league in 2010, so Kemp would be an especially attractive option for the Nats.
Strasburg for Kemp!
I kid, I kid! But seriously, the Nats would have to put together a very enticing package to pry Kemp loose.
The Nats would be able to plug Kemp in on day one, and he would perform as a key playing in the American League.
The Dodgers, might do it, if they could get some hot young talent, or maybe Zimmerman for 3b and some others.
I see it only as a 2 or 3 for 3 or 4 trade. Both teams might be helped.
Kemp for Zimmerman and other players too? Kemp isn’t in Zimmerman’s league. Zimmerman is superior and Kemp had ONE good season.
Not in his league? Kemp had more homers than Zimmerman in a down year. While Zimmerman had a better season, you shouldn’t say he’s far and away better than Kemp.
I’m pretty sure everyone agrees with the Zimmerman side. Plus as a Yankee fan I know about unrealistic trade ideas and that my friend is precisely that. Zimmerman is a franchise cornerstone and Kemp is a good player, but lacks the intangibles that Zimmerman brings to the table. It is not shocking that Kemp’s play fell off as he started dating a celeb and the Dodgers fell out of the race. Zimmerman plays for a terrible team and he ALWAYS give his all. That is something you don’t giveaway.
Oh god. Im not going to argue the Zimmerman/Kemp part, but the rest? Really? The intangibles? Look, its obvious you only get the Kemp data you know from the same resources any baseball fan in LA has stopped listening/reading/watching, because their coverage of the Dodgers is ridiculous.
Kemp career wOBA: .349
Zimmerman career wOBA: .360
Zimmerman has got the edge with the bat, and doesn’t have the wild fluctuations in his UZR.
Again, not saying Kemp is better. Just saying the difference isn’t as pronounced as the previous poster said.
No, he was right. Kemp isn’t close to being in Zimmerman’s league. Kemp’s best OPS over a full season was 842, which is Zimmerman’s career OPS. Then you realize that Kemp’s only been a good defender in 2009, whereas Zimmerman has been one of the top defensive 3B over his career. It’s really not that close. Kemp’s a solid player, but there’s just no way he has nearly as much value as Zimmerman. Even if he repeats the 09 season, Zimmerman is still better than him.
If you want to go by WAR from the moment Kemp has played fulltime (2008) to now, Zimmerman leads 16.4 to 8.5.
Kemp’s a solid player, but he just isn’t in Zimmerman’s league. Few are.
I actually think it’s not an awful trade 1:1. I don’t think it has to do much with Kemp’s struggles this past season, but more on potential. Any scout and GM in the league would likely project Kemp (when his head is there) to be a .280-.300 guy with a .350s+ OBP and over 30HRs, 30SB per season. You can’t deny the fact that he, for one reason or another, wasn’t all there this season.
The thing about Zimmerman is that I’ve never heard him complain – not once. And he’s on an awful team. So psychologically, he seems great for the clubhouse. Kemp on the other hand doesn’t have the same track record. And not just last season, but even before when the Vets were calling out the Kids in 2007.
If I’m Washington, I’d only really consider it if it were Kemp + another player. Potential only goes so far, and potential is (usually) most valued to the club holding the chip.
Well…the character issues are real though, and you can’t just *completely* ignore them when projecting someone. “Potential” is just potential until it turns into something more.
Secondly, there’s a difference between a player having “30/30 potential” and then actually projecting him to be a consistent 30/30 guy. Even when Beltran was in his 20s and healthy, he went 30/30 only once. Jayson Werth has “30/30 tools” but he’ll probably never do it.
Zimmerman is on another level than Kemp because all of Zimmerman’s potential has actually turned into real production, whereas Kemp is still somewhat of an unknown. Furthermore, even IF Kemp does get his act together and turn into a star, it’s still probably a wash.
The media issues are not there and are overblown. Everytime Kemp has been asked, he has made the comments like “I know I had a down year and need to turn it around”. Stewart is the person who came out and defended Kemp against Bowa, Colletti and Schafer. And honestly, how many people have to deal with the bench coach, GM and 3rd base coach calling you out…. when you are leading the league in HRs?(at the time this began, he already had a ridiculous total of 12 in just a few weeks.)
I only want to post it once, but look further below to a full report on why Kemp has struggled. It is a mechanical issue that was being addressed
It’s true. Zimmerman is a top 3 3rd baseman in this league and Kemp is not even a top 10 outfielder.
He was only universally considered the best CF in the game last year? And is still at worst like 2nd, behind Rasmus? But yea, no doubt
I like Kemp a lot, and he does great on the standard stats- I grant you that. But Zimmerman IS a far and away better player. Kemp is toolsy. He has power, speed, and plays in a position where being able to swing a bat without looking like a spaz is a big plus. With that said, Kemp may very possibly never quite be a polished baseball player. When he first came into the league, his instincts were poor- which was not his fault at all. He hadn’t always been a baseball player, he was drafted as a great athlete who might LEARN to play baseball well.
And he did learn to play baseball well. He’s an above average player. But it’s been a few years now and the growth and adaptation you could hope for just don’t seem to be there. The knocks on him are:
1. His defense is bad. It’s really sad. I seriously thought he would someday be a good defensive player and that last season was the step towards that. All the physical abilities are there. But it may just never happen. 2009 was his only above average season. All the others he’s been below average defensively. Bad jumps, bad instincts. He can run to the ball, but will he ever track them well? Who knows? I wouldn’t bank on it.
2. His plate discipline is lacking. Again, typical of a toolsy guy with bad instincts. With a 25% K and 7 % BB, he is never going to be an elite hitter. He can still be an excellent hitter at CF, but not in general. In his best season he had an OBP of .373… with a 0.411 BABIP. 400 BABIP! Seriously. He could only manage to get on base 37% of the time, when 41% of his balls in play weren’t handled. That boggles my mind. And again, no improvement. At all. This is probably his true talent level. We’re seeing the best of him right now.
3. He is mediocre baserunner. Fast guys should be good on the bases, right? And he is pretty good. But this is very much based on his speed. Despite being fast, he gets caught stealing too much. In some of the advanced baserunning stats I’ve seen, he’s basically had 2 good baserunning seasons and two very bad ones (2007 and 2010). And again, no improvement on that- just random variation.
So basically, Kemp is a good player- even with these. But Zimmerman plays excellent defense, hits for more power, and has a high OBP. Even with the positional difference, that’s huge. The only reason why one could make any argument for Kemp being equal to Zimmerman is because Zimmerman has had injury issues. With both in good health, it’s not even close.
Ummm. The Nationals play in the NL, not AL. No way would the Nationals, in the right frame of mind send over Ryan Zimmerman.
Zimmerman’s going nowhere. He’s their franchise player and is signed to a team-friendly contract.
Come on guys..He was obviously talking about trading Jordan Zimmerman and making him move over to 3rd..
Haha thatd actually be more realistic than Ryan Zimmerman going
You obviously think a lot of Matt Kemp but the fact that you’d readily trade him for Zimmerman says a lot of what you think of Zimmerman. You recognize his value even if you don’t acknowledge it. Zimmerman for Kemp would be a bad deal, for the Nats, especially if they had to throw in extra players. Zimmerman is superstar, HOF material, Kemp is regressing from star material to marginal clubhouse distraction. He’s still got a lot to prove and given the direction he’s going it’s going to be hard for him to prove it.
how do you regress to clubhouse distraction in one season where you didnt say anything negative to the media?
The Nationsals play in the AL? News to me..
Zimmerman is the face of the franchise. It would be the equivalent of the Orioles trading Cal Ripken. Zippy chance he ever gets traded.
Not saying it is going to happen, but I think Strasburg has that title. Think Nats and the first thing is Stras
Understandable because he’s the hot ticket right now, but Zimmerman was the first draft pick and is the guy, locally, who is on all of the Nats commercials, on the website, etc.. I guess you could go either/or but just for comparisons sake, imagine trading Strasburg…it has to make you giggle at least a little. If they were to trade Zimmerman, the return package would have to be extraordinary.
Fair enough. As I was thinking about it, it reminded me of what the Dodgers want to do with Kershaw and Kemp. That is, dual media favorites.
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Does anyone else feel like the Cardinals and Dodgers are just going to swap Rasmus and Kemp? (In a general sense, I don’t know if one team would have to chip in some more.) If somehow both of those players ended up on the trade market (which is pretty unlikely), it could make for an incredibly exciting off-season.
No unless Dodgers add a lottttt more.
I sure hope not…
The Cardinals appear to need left-handed Rasmus and the Dodgers need right-handed Kemp more than the other way around. Pujols, Holliday, Kemp is too right handed. Ethier, Loney, Rasmus is too left-handed.
package centred around Rasmus to O’s for Adam Jones ??
but then that gives the Cards a righty-bat problem again. me, I’d go for Markakis — i think he’d mash after Pujols, Holliday, but then there’s a huge money gap
i wouldn’t do Rasmus straight up for Adam Jones let alone a package centered around him+more(unless i missread your post and you meant a package around Jones+more for Rasmus, in which case, it might work if it some good players)
Rasmus > Kemp, IMO. I would not trade Rasmus. Didn’t the GM even say he (rasmus) wasn’t going to be traded? Rasmus has massive upside and still so young, yet he still produces offensively on par or above average for his position.
Two things. One, Colletti said the same thing about Kemp. Two, Kemp’s best year is better than Rasmus’s… So why do we have to even have these conversations?
That’s true, I actually don’t know why we’re talking aboot this.. I just thought I’d reply but looking at the original topic it’s about Kemp going to the Nats lol and I don’t think it’s going to happen. Keeping kemp would be the best choice for the Dodgers
Two things. One, Colletti said the same thing about Kemp. Two, Kemp’s best year is better than Rasmus’s… So why do we have to even have these conversations?
yes
I bet there’s going to be plenty of teams in on the “disgruntled young outfielders” market this year. I know the Braves will be.
Any Dodgers fans here that can speak to whether his defense was actually as bad this year as UZR suggests?
Yes Kemp’s defense was as bad as it suggests. He misread plenty of balls, and almost never ran down balls in the gap like he did in 2009. This year if he ran down a ball it fell for a basehit.
Agreed. Though I would say it improved as the season went on. It was the first month or two that was terrible.
I don’t think Kemp makes much sense for the Nationals. He’s a young, controllable outfielder, and would take a couple really nice pieces to pry loose. The Nationals have been the best rebuiliding team over the past couple of years. Why trade some of those prized, well developed prospects for a guy like Matt Kemp. The Nationals don’t need another over valued outfielder with average numbers.
“The Nationals have been the best *rebuiliding* team over the past couple of years.”
Building, maybe. But to REbuild there must have been something built in the first place
Meh. You know what I meant. Lol
expos had their uver sexy years
The Nationals talk the talk, but haven’t really been able to walk the walk.
Either coming from a Pirates fan, a Mariners fan, or an Ian Snell fan.
-wtk
Kemp’s going nowhere, this is a NON STORY. Loney I could see being traded, but not Kemp. The Dodgers know how talented he is, Mattingly’s been working on him and spoke about things he looks for next year. He’s too young, controllable and talented for them to trade. (And yes, we’d all love C Rasmus; I don’t see the Cards trading him either.) Wake me when this is a story.
It already is a story. Kemp’s agent has expressed his displeasure and the team has said they’d listen to offers for him. The only way they could make this into a bigger story was if the McCourts said there were 100% shopping him this offseason.
Let’s put it this way, a team saying they’d be interested in someone is not a story, imho. A team who owns that player saying they’re shopping him around is a story.
From this one:
insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster…
We get this:
>>Colletti made it clear Friday that he’s not looking to trade Kemp and feels very good about Kemp’s future with the team.
Colletti, like all general managers, will listen if somebody wants to call and make him a proposal on any of his players. “But there’s not going to be any shopping on our part,” he said.
“I view all of our core younger guys as people who are going to be here for a while.”<<
Another point: The Dodgers need a 3rd full time outfielder for next season. Unless they sign a big FA for the infield and go with a platoon for that spot (something like Trayvon Robinson/XPaul), the odds are they will focus on that 3rd OF spot. Trading Kemp means they need to find 2 good outfielders, not just one. Does that make sense? Granted, sometimes Colletti does things that don't make sense, but I don't see this one, unless, again, they get someone back in a blockbuster trade like C Rasmus, and as the Cards fan above pointed out that's very unlikely.
Jurrjens for Kemp?
As good as Jurrjens is it doesn’t seem like enough for Kemp, I think the Braves would have to include a little more.
I’d do Jurrjens plus a prospect for Kemp.
Or Greinke. Kemp is from Oklahoma, might enjoy playing closer to home.
If Matt Kemp is available, he could hop across town. The Angels are looking for a LF and are able to move pieces like Napoli, Kendrick/Callaspo/Izturis, and Juan Rivera. If McCourt was more secure financially this wouldn’t be a story, so it would make sense for him to trade for multiple cheap controllable mlb players in return.
That’s funny, I heard the Dodgers have interest in Stephen Strasburg. This reminds me of the “Ethier wants to play for Boston” Story. Next we’re going to hear Kershaw is going to be in Pinstripes.
The Dodgers could very well make a lot of changes this off-season, but it’s going to take a LOT to move any of these guys.
i Hope Toronto get him.
Maybe Toronto gets: Matt kemp
Dodgers get Bret cecil, travis d”arnud, and shawn marcum
Horrible deal for the Blue Jays.
Agreed. JP isn’t in the front office anymore.
I would love it if the Jays acquired Kemp, but I’m pretty sure they won’t trade two of their top starters for him.
I wouldn’t even trade Marcum or Cecil for Kemp let alone together.
four out of five Canadian doctors agree: keep arms, sign hitters elsewhere
see Garza, Matt; Young, Delmon
That proposal is ludicrous. Way too much talent for Kemp.
AA laughs you off the phone.
that’s some intense trolling
Doesn’t make sense for the Dodgers, they would be selling low on Kemp. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, he has way too much talent to have a season like he had. Strong bounceback candidate.
Don’t understand some of you people. The site is called MLB Trade RUMORS. Not everything posted here is factual evidence of something that a team is going to do. The Nationals having interest in Matt Kemp is a rumor, and so, has relevance to this site. If you want strict news about baseball, read on ESPN or something. If you want to “hear everything that’s being whispered,” than this is your place.
Red sox trade: dice-k(money), ellsbury, reddick, Anderson, weiland
dodgers trade: Matt kemp and James loney or Russel Martin.
Seems as though a lot of money would have to change hands for the Dodgers to be able to take that on. Dice-K would have to come cheap for them.
This is actually a pretty interesting proposal. Maybe more reasonable if the Sox gave up 2 prospects instead of 3.
aha, I love how you want to take AWAY from that proposal… but not Ellsbury or Dice K, the prospects that have some value
just stop. no one wants Dice K or Ellsbury. One sucks and one is Juan Pierre
Well think what u want but dice-k would help the dodgers and would pitch well in the national league. His career stats in the nl are 6-3, 58 2/3 IP, 53 H, 35BB, 57K, 26ER. So think what u want but dice-k could help the dodgers. Also this year against the PHILLIES his line was 8IP, 1H, 4BB, 5K’s. That’s pretty good.
He made 12 starts in 09 and 25 in 2010. He makes 20M in the next two years. He had 5.76 and 4.69 ERA, and in 2008, his good year, lead the league in BB. Also, his WHIP is 1.5 in the last two years, and nearly 1.4 in his career. He is very bad and very overpaid
He’s not terrible, he’s average. I’d still think the dodgers would listen to the sox if they offer dice-k with like 4-8mm included.
You are telling me you want us to pay him between 14 and 16 million dollars over the next two years to allow 1.5 baserunners an inning? Especially when the Dodgers have little to no money in the first place? You sound really dumb or uninformed right now…
Thank goodness we have you to put us all in our place. Would you like me to bow down to you BEFORE or AFTER I wave my Ivy League Master’s Degree in your face?
Don’t like being talked down to? Then stop being such a jerk.
I’m not sure if I missed a comment before the edit but based off how it looks now, I don’t know if there was a nicer way for him to say “You’re wrong or uninformed.” He’s one of the regular Dodgers commenters and his logic is actually pretty sound in this situation; Kemp, Loney, and Martin are three of LA’s best players and the proposal mentioned included Dice-K, who has a career ERA of 4.18 and a WHIP of 1.4 and is making an obscene amount of money for that output, and Jacoby Ellsbury, who has had two good years but has been bitten by the injury bug. The prospects mentioned carry much more value and the only way a deal like that would make sense is if money was included in the deal to offset the salaries that would be changing hands.
The only thing I edited was the message from my phone that said “sent from Sprint Blackberry”.
Well, in that case, then I don’t know why the previous commenter mentioned educational background or perceived that you did not like being talked down to. I didn’t get that impression at all. The impression I did get was that such a proposal (Dice-K, Ellsbury, et al.) for what was mentioned would be stupid. Actually, in my opinion, it’s almost as dumb as suggesting that Ryan Zimmerman would be a great trade candidate for Matt Kemp, straight up, not even considering that he accounts for a bulk of the Nats’ offense, is the face of the franchise, and at his current rate, is a future Gold Glove 3B and Hall of Famer, and Kemp hasn’t even come close to Zimmerman’s consistency. Kemp isn’t a bad player, but offering him for Zimmerman straight up is just a laughable proposition.
The previous commenter mentioning that you don’t like being talked down to/mentioning educational background is wholly irrelevant to the points being made and is a stretch in assuming that was why you were talking the way you were.
I was shocked that I got that response because I didn’t think I made any kind of personal attack that was completely unnecessary. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one to take it that way
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
The only thing I edited was the message from my phone that said “sent from Sprint Blackberry”.
Look, at least 10 people agreed with my comment that no one wants Dice K or Ellsbury. Im sorry if it came off as a douche sounding thing, but its true. Neither player makes any sense for the Dodgers, especially considering you want us to give you our best hitter and position player…
Just an observation, but nothing is more douchey than “waving an Ivy League diploma.” If waving a diploma makes someone the epitome of a Summer’s Eve, waving an Ivy League diploma makes you a pretentious, affected, mint-scented douche.
Just to throw my two cents in otherwise, Ryan Zimmerman will not be moved for Matt Kemp. I think you would be lucky to get Roger Bernadina and prospects for Matt Kemp.
-wtk
Dice K is better than most starters on the dodgers…and if the Sox paid most of the $$ then he is more than valuable. I also have no idea how you assume that after an injury filled season ellsbury has no value. He had 70sb the year before, great defense and he is a far better hitter than Juan Pierre.
Ok, your first sentence shows you know nothing about the Dodgers. They led the league in ERA for the last two months of the season. Here are the top 5 starters from last year.. Kershaw-2.91 ERA as a 22 year old lefty, Billingsley- 3.57 as a 26 year old, Kuroda- 3.39 ERA, Lilly with the Dodgers- 3.52, on the season- 3.62, Padilla- 4.07 ERA in an injury filled season. So… where is he better?
And Ellsbury, it is very simple. He is a slap hitter with no power. Guess what… so was Pierre in his prime. When Pierre was 27(his best season), he hit 326/374/407/781. Ellsbury best season, 2009, as a 26 year old, he hit 301/355/415/770. And great defense? You mean his -9.7 UZR in 2009? Look, anyone and everyone can and will like players because they seem exciting. However, on this site, you have to realize everyone else doesnt care if X player is your favorite, it is how they are seen in the public. And Ellsbury is a bad player, no matter what ESPN and Boston fans think
Ellsbury isn’t a bad player at all. When he plays he is considered one of the best lead-off hitters in baseball and his speed is a huge game changer. And that one season of so called “bad defense” is misleading because you ask those who watched him play all season and they would say he is a very good defender. If you want to look at his worst season defensively according to UZR, then why don’t you look at his best season which is 21.3. And you don’t know if Ellsbury has had his best season yet because he is only 27 and has many years left to play. The Red Sox offense does much better with Ellsbury in their lineup.
I do agree on your Dice-K argument however. He doesn’t nearly have the value that some Sox fans think he has. But he does have more than you give him credit for. He could possibly do very well in the NL or a pitchers park, or both. But if I ran the Dodgers I wouldn’t take him in a deal for Kemp unless he was a throw in and had most of his contract paid.
I disagree with most of the Ellsbury part. He is a leadoff hitter, and a good one. So was Pierre. But my point is he is not valuable in a trade. He is worse than the player he is being traded for and is older. And hiss defense was so bad they moved him off of CF. Its known his defense is bad. I think the fact that the Red Sox admitted that by moving him off of CF should please that argument.And Dice K is similar to Soriano. Maybe he’ll give his team some value, but he makes so much and it is so minuscule that it is not worth it. His contract is unmovable because of his flop in the states.
And why does it say I liked your post? lol
They moved him to LF because they got Cameron for CF…
This is from Tito:
[LBJ] was worried that it was a demotion, which it is not. I kind of insured him of that. I just think we’re tying to put guys where we think they can make the biggest impression. Cam was great, for a guy who is 37-years-old and played center field his whole life, he said, “Hey, I’ll play anywhere.” So it was just a decision based on what’s best for our team.
He says Cameron was willing to play anywhere, either LF or CF, basically. They decided that Ellsbury would be better suited for LF. It was not because they got Cameron he went to LF.
Also, isnt a LF easier to find on the market than a CF? Therefore, if they believed Ellsbury could play CF, wouldnt they have just gotten a LF?
Dont really remember who was on the market with as good defense as Cameron though. They were going with their “all defense” approach and he was the best option for that. Cameron’s defense is superior to Elsbury and Elsbury also previously played a bit of LF at Fenway too.
Kershaw and Billingsley are better than Dice k is what I was getting at…but when you attempt to argue that Kuroda, Lilly and Padilla are better than Dice k, you completely forget what leagues these guys play in. If they all pitched in the AL east vs lineups of the yankees, jays, and rays, their eras would be at least a point higher.
Elsbury is a bad player because you say he is…right. Just because Juan Pierre had only a few good years, doesnt mean Elsbury’s career will be the same…
I hate comments like that. “Oh, because they play in the NL, theyd suck in the AL”. Cant you just admit that Kuroda and Lilly are #3s in either league, and Padilla is a #4 in the AL, #3 in the NL. Dice K is a #4 in the NL and a #5 in the AL….?
With Ellsbury(I love how you spell his name wrong…), the best way to predict a players career is to look at comparable players that played in the past. Ellsbury is a slap hitter, Pierre is a slap hitter. Both are good lead off hitters, both are really fast. Both COULD play CF, but arent really that great at it. Because they are comparable players, you can compare stats from their same age. That is what I did. I pointed out Pierre’s best year was the season in which he was 27, and Ellsbury best year so far is when he was 26. Sure, you could say that Ellsbury is going to get better and hit 320 next year, but it is a better prediction to follow the career path of a guy very similar to him and look at their same age seasons. In fact, as I said above, Pierre was better than Ellsbury.
So yes, you are right. Pierre’s career doesnt mean that that is how Ellsbury’s will go. However, it is statistically likely that Ellsbury follows Pierre’s path
You may hate that argument but do you really think Kuroda, Padilla and Lilly would have the same numbers in the AL East? I’ll take a guy who can hit around .300 hitter and steal 50+ bases, isnt that what teams want from a leadoff hitter?
Matt Kemp versus Dodgers brass and staff: Completely overblown.
No, it was a complete mishandlement by a “HOF” staff. Its ridiculous the amount of people that called out the best hitter on the team
Bob Schaefer was the biggest problem with the Kemp ordeal. What bench coach calls out one of his own players behind his back? Of all the Dodger coaches leaving the staff, Bob is the one I will miss the least.
Sorry if this double replies, but if you want to say Schaefer was the biggest problem, Bowa is a CLOSE second, with Colletti right behind both of them…
In my crazy, uninformed, opinion, all three should be fired before Kemp traded.
Every single Dodger fan agrees with you
I am a Dodger fan. And Matt Kemp for Zimmerman or Rasmus is a complete fantasy. Kemp is not a great player. He is slightly better than average. He is a horrible centerfielder. He can not get a jump on the ball. Sometimes he starts running the opposite way the ball is hit. He is lazy, unmotivated, and an “out all night clubbing” player. He is a recipe for disastor. I hope the Dodgers jetison him while they can still get something before he implodes like Raul Mondesi. Zimmerman is a stud and I would live to have him, but it will NEVER happen.
Thank you for not letting fandom blind you.
I LIKE Kemp, and absolutely see that he has tantalizing talent — but for others to actually think he’s on the same level as a proven commodity as Zimmerman is absurd.
This is why Kemp ACTUALLY struggled, not Rihanna
memoriesofkevinmalone.com/2010/08/matt-kemps-strug…
Interesting, but I wonder why nobody considers the vast differences in the lineup this year. Everybody was less productive this year. Not only is it much more difficult to be a good hitter in a weak lineup, players (especially young ones) tend to try to do much, to carry the team. Not only that, fastball hitters thrive with men on base. It should come as no surprise that Kemp spent the season trying to drive the ball out of the park and got fewer of those kind of pitches.
Kemp To the Cubs!
Ask for any of the Jacksons or HJE then forget it!
I already have.
Yankees get Kemp and Kershaw
Dodgers get Burnett(+money), Joba, and Juan Miranda
The Yankees get a good OF and SP and the Dodgers get 2 potential aces and a 1B with 40+ HR power.
…….
wait the yankees are giving up way too much. We need billingsley for middle relief, and james loney to platoon with teix.
That’s hilarious. Thanks for the laughs! Wait… er, assuming you’re not serious? A borderline garbagey expensive pitcher that no one on the Yankees wants, a disappointing reliever/starter and Miranda for a 5 tool player and a 22 year old ace LHP? Seriously now.
Sorry but… Are you high?
This is almost the exact same thing as the Daisuke/Elsbury proposal to me.
-wtk
Alright let’s get real if Kemp does get traded it’ll be to the one who offers the most pitching. Other than that he won’t get traded at all
Fun on twitter from Dodger beat writer Dylan Hernandez:
@dylanohernandez: Washington Post headline: Nationals would have interest in Matt Kemp. In related news, @hankschulman would have interest in Megan Fox.
How about Kemp & Jamey Carroll for Jair Jurrjens, Christian Betancourt, Zeke Spruiell, & Nate McLouth, and 3 million bucks.
Dodgers get a #2 or #3 starter to go behind Kershaw and Billingsley, a good young Catching prospect, a nice High A ball Starter and a 3rd OF who has fallen out of favor in ATL
I actually don’t see this as being too far off. I don’t think Nate McClouth is as great a player as my Pittsburgh friends seem to think he was, but the inclusion of Carroll and the prospects included (potential Russell Martin replacement) seem good to me.
Good job Marc, for what I consider the first good comment on this post that wasn’t someone lambasting a Zimmerman/Daisuke/Burnett for Kemp and more offer (which were also great and entertaining).
-wtk
I am a lifelong Dodger fan. Kemp is not worth anything close to Zimmerman after the year he has had, and the only reason he deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as Rasmus is that St. Louis has Torre–whose ego is bigger than that weird arch they have–and he has created a riff that might require the Cards trading Colby (who should/would be untouchable in any rational situation). For Rasmus, LA would have to give up Kemp, a pile of cash, and at least 2-3 solid prospects (in the Dee Gordon range). Personally, I would just about trade the farm if I was Colletti, although I suspect he’ll trade Kemp for a 35 year old middle reliever, a box of Ho-Hos, and some cash so McCourt can still afford to impress the much-younger ladies he is now free to pretend would have interest in him.