As the Red Sox survey their options for alternatives to free agent Jacoby Ellsbury, an interesting name has popped up on their radar. The Red Sox are one of several teams who have made inquiries on Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp, a major league source tells Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
After the Red Sox unloaded some of their biggest salaries on the Dodgers more than a year ago, Boston could be in store for a role reversal if they hammer out a deal for Kemp. The star outfielder is still owed about $130MM over the next six years, but the Dodgers would likely eat a good portion of the contract in order to get some talent in return.
Kemp, 29, was limited to just 73 games in 2013 and played in only 106 games in 2012, but he was quite durable prior ro that stretch. Of course, his best season came in 2011 when he hit .324/.399/.586 with 39 homers and was edged out for NL MVP by Ryan Braun. The source tells Cafardo that although the Dodgers haven't been shopping Kemp, they have gotten inquiries. Kemp seems to be getting more interest than fellow Dodger outfielders Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford.
