Here are the latest trade rumors surrounding Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. Kemp, who hit .270/.328/.395 in an injury-plagued season in 2013, has six years and $128MM remaining on the eight-year deal he signed at the end of 2011.
- The Red Sox have decided not to trade for Matt Kemp, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweets.
- The Tigers and Mariners (along with the Red Sox) have recently talked with the Dodgers about Kemp, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FOX Sports tweet.
- Rosenthal tweets that, if the Dodgers deal Kemp, they want to make sure they get good players back, and they're willing to eat salary in order to do so.
- For the Tigers, trading for Kemp will be tricky because of their recent agreement to sign Rajai Davis, Morosi tweets. Acquiring Kemp might mean they'd have to trade Austin Jackson to make room for him.
Tony Matias
Looks like the suitors for a lot of these guys is deteriorating. Gives Jack Z. a perfect opportunity to make some really bad decisions.
DerekJeterDan
Red Sox in my opinion should now be the favorites to land Shin Soo Choo.
Mark Hostert
They’d be better with Kemp as the Dodgers would eat some of that contract. The Red Sox are making many good decisions and I hope they stay away from Choo.
ChancellorZed
If the Red Sox would unwilling to stretch for Ellsbury, why would they for Choo? I think its pretty clear that they won’t give a five year contact to an outfielder who will be 32 next year who has a .400 point OPS swing against LHP and RHP. They won’t spend money this way.
Salvi
Red Sox don’t like negotiating with Boras. They don’t sign any of his FAs to long term deals. 6 years running, they haven’t sign one to more than a one-year deal (S Drew, Beltre), and they’ve handed out over half billion in contracts in that time. Doubt they’ll break open the checkbook now right after crying poor.
Leonard Washington
So spending your money wisely is crying poor now? If the Sox want over the hill players on 10 year deals they will call Boras. Its just that 30 year old over the hill players shouldn’t get 10 year deals and like the Cardinals and Rangers the Sox now refuse to play that game.
Salvi
Who said anything about 10 year deals? They aren’t interested in Drew for a two or Carlos Ruiz for three year deal. And mgmt has already said another big signing would most likely require moving a pitcher. Its a soft cap, so they can go over it. Since they didn’t last year nor will they next year (they have lots of money coming off the books after ’14), why would they care if they go over cap this year.
Jose Villasano
Why would the Dodgers want another outfielder if they are trying to get rid of one of them
Guest 4011
Was just gonna type that, lol. Seems several teams have an abundance of OF’s.
AlphaICaesar
I think the implication is that Jackson would need to be moved in order to accommodate Kemp, not necessarily as part of the deal for Kemp.
Bill Smith
Don’t really think we have the pieces to get Kemp, without trading an OF as part of the deal.
AlphaICaesar
A 3 team deal that sends Jackson elsewhere for some of those pieces would be a possibility, but it doesn’t sound like this rumor is more than spitballing at this stage.
Bill Smith
Yup, I’m in agreement. DD is a mad hatter though, so I wouldn’t be shocked if he pulled it off.
Ausome7
It all depends on the money. You may not need a lot of pieces if you’re willing to take on the rest of the contract.
Bill Smith
Well if we want to take on all the money, (or most), then we can kiss one of Scherzer or Miggy goodbye. There just isn’t enough cash for us to pay all these stars.
Ausome7
There’s a lot of ifs in that though.. If we get kemp. If scherzer repeats.
Bill Smith
Yeah, but isn’t that what you’ve got in speculation; “if’s”?
Ausome7
It’s what I live off of
IDoNotBowToCommies
Exactly, unless as a trade chip to get a 3B.
BlueSkyLA
Because they aren’t actually. Trade Kemp and nobody is left to play CF. Not that this is a problem in armchair GM land.
Danny Phillips
Not sure why they would be selling this low on Kemp, he won’t be traded.
Mark Hostert
Big contract, injury prone, crowded OF.
Danny Phillips
I understand all of that, still I’d rather not sell low on a player at this point who still has such potential.
Josh Blackfeild
He’s not getting younger.
drwheelock
All afternoon and evening today, all the rumors and reports is really talking Kemp being still in a cast and not ready for ST….and Dodgers going on record as mentioning that they will be sending a LOT of cash in the deal for decent prospects…that doesn’t necessarily mean top 50 MLB prospects OR a teams top 10 prospect(s).
It’s got all the writing on the wall of Seattle to me. Just sayin.
Leonard Washington
If seattle could that without losing Walker THAT would be the move to make. No price get Kemp.
Matt Galvin
No need to Trade Jackson because Davis is a good Pinch Runner and maybe Hunter in LF and Kemp in RF.
BadBJay
I think Hunter is done.
Colin Christopher
He batted .304 and scored 90 runs last year. I wish every outfielder on my favorite team was “done.”
DiaperRauch
Batting average doesn’t really inform anybody as to how effective he is (his 4% BB% is scary, and his defense is in a scary decline phase), and runs are more a product of being on base in front of great hitters than it does say anything about one player’s ability to score runs.
That said Torii Hunter is still likely a major league average outfielder for 2014, though maybe not much better.
weaselpuppy
He swung at anything west of Canada last year, he really started his swings early and chased a ton of balls outside…gave up his OBP% to make contact, which is the sign of a slowing bat for sure….but he’s got one more 2-3 WAR year left in him, maybe 2….maybe.
DiaperRauch
Ya projection systems aren’t kind to his skill set going forward, but like you said there’s likely another season or two of competent play in Torii.
johansantana16
say what you want, but he hasn’t gotten injured in years, hit .304 last season, and has 11 WAR over the past 3 seasons.
BadBJay
OK, 2014 is a new season. He seemed to have lost some gas in the playoffs.
alphabet_soup5
Small sample size. He isn’t what he used to be but would probably start in the OF for almost every MLB team.
weaselpuppy
Torii is one of those rare guys that is a genetic freak and works like a maniac to keep himself in shape. he’ll be 38 next year and fine. Not 5 WAR fine, but Beltran, who is a lot less healthy and a lot worse defender just got $15M a year for his age 37-39 seasons. Torii put up 3 WAR on O at age 37, Beltran 3.2 at 36. I would expect him to get a 1 yr extension if he is tracking similar numbers at the AS break.
Josh Blackfeild
Not that this has to do with baseball, but he is also one of the best players off the field. Wish he was still in Anaheim, but he’s great for a city like Detroit.
Ausome7
So we spent 10mil on a pinch runner?
nick gastaldo
Kemp most likely isn’t gonna be traded
Pavilionbum
Jon Morosi also tweets that Matt Kemp is a former teammate of Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus; because he’s Jon Morosi.
Will Ferman
I know the Yankees have too many outfielders but boy do they need a right handed power bat. Kemp would be nice. I admit though I’m not sure the Yankees and Dodgers match up well. Unless a third team was brought in. The only right handed power bat we have is Soriano. I know I’m not the only fan who drools at the thought of a (healthy) Kemp-Ellsbury-Beltran outfield. He will probably end up going to another team that has more to offer though…
JacobyWanKenobi
I guess it would ultimately depend on how much money LA wants to eat.
Will Ferman
I think they’re holding out for a shortstop, third base, or relief prospect, of which the Yankees have none. That being said I’m thinking they should expect to eat $20-$30 million to get good players in return.
drwheelock
This has Seattle’s 2B/SS Franklin written all over it, and one of Seattle’s many quality RPing arms.
Gop5
As much as I would hate Kemp going to the Yankees, I could see this being a possibility. Main pieces being Gardner sent to Seattle, Kemp to NY, and prospects and salary relief to LAD. Plus other pieces in all directions too of course. Mariners do need a leadoff hitter and CF. Still would need a power OF bat to protect Cano. Maybe if the Dodgers would send Pederson to the Mariners too.
$3513744
yankees have too many OF’s as it is. they’re just trading away one for another.
Gop5
I agree, I don’t think they need more either. Personally, I like it better since I’d like the Mariners to acquire Kemp. Just playing with the idea.
JB Knox
The Red Sox have the prospects they need. LAD obviously needs a 3B, could use a SS if Hanley doesn’t resign after next season and they have no catching depth to speak of in the minors.
They’re Top 10 prospects are a 2B (Guerrero) a CF and then a mix of LHP and RHP to fill out the Top 10 list.
I’m betting they asked the Red Sox for Middlebrooks, Marrrero and either Swihart or Vazquez while offering back Kemp and some cash.
Cherington was probably throwing Middlebrooks in there but also trying to dump Dempster or Peavy in the mix and was in no way willing to part with either catcher.
Just postulating there though
JB Knox
I wouldn’t say a RH power bat is necessary for NYY. It’s not like it’s more valuable than a LH hitting power bat in Yankee Stadium and two of their power hitters in the middle of the line-up are switch hitters
Eliazar Saucedo
The only team with a realistic chance is the Mariners to help Cano and establish some credibility. It probably wont be very smart long term but that hasn’t stopped them before
Will Ferman
That would be ideal. I still don’t understand the Mariners plan but hey what do I know I’m just a baseball fan. Cano makes them just a bit better but he’s only one player. The Red Sox couldn’t have won the World Series last year with just Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia. The whole team was solid. I just think the Mariners have way too many question marks. They better take advantage of the next three seasons because Cano will hit the inevitable steep decline second basemen hit around 33-34 years old.
DiaperRauch
Cano makes them “just a bit better”? He’s one of the most valuable position players in baseball. The Mariners weren’t in a position on the projected win curve to sign Cano, but the improvement the Mariners made signing him isn’t insignificant.
Matt Talbert
If they want to protect Cano ahem Corey Hart is in FA and won’t be that expensive – can DH/1b/COF…why not? Screwed up on missing Rajai. I like him a lot.
rouscher
Theres no need to trade austin jackson, davis just would become your fourth outfielder, unless they want him to start
RestoreTheRoar
I agree, keep Davis- drop Dirks.
AlphaICaesar
Could Washington possibly be a sleeper for a Kemp deal?
Ausome7
Haven’t the nats stole enough this offseason?
AlphaICaesar
That Fister deal was robbery for sure. Was just thinking about which team had the cash, prospects, and CF needs to take the gamble and the Nats seemed intriguing.
calamityfrancis
Time for your big splash Sandy Alderson.
Matt Galvin
Davis can also be a Defense Replacement and part time starter to give somebody the night off. Choo plays RF and Shane V is not going back to CF.
Jimbo504
wishful thinking… but I hope Mozeliak sneaks in on this one.they have the money.
Tim Bowers
A realistic deal for Kemp would be Franklin, Paxton, and Dodgers eating 35 mil for Kemp. Maybe a throw in guy like Erasmo Ramirez, Micheal Saunders, or Abe Almonte as well.
macdice
I would throw in Ramirez if the Dodgers include Fife
The_Unnatural
Not. You don’t understand just how risky Kemp is. If I were the Z, I’d be leery of trading Franklin straight up, even with LA eating $35MM. I seriously doubt Kemp will ever be close to MVP caliber again.
$3513744
make it 85mm and we got a deal
Gop5
Dodgers don’t need Franklin now that they signed Alex Guerrero, and they can probably do it without Paxton. Something more like Stefan Romero, Ramirez/Pike. I’d rather the Mariners take on more salary than trade Paxton. Use Franklin to get relief help….KC maybe? They are shopping Crow and Collins.
thegrayrace
Not true exactly. The Dodgers still need infield help. They still aren’t sure where Guerrero will be playing, or if he’s entirely major league ready. 2B and 3B are still issues.
Josh Blackfeild
I see the M’s pulling a deal that would include Walker for Kemp.
RC23
i dont
Danny Phillips
That would not be very smart.
Josh Blackfeild
Signing Cano wasn’t smart.
Danny Phillips
Agreed, but I can see why they were so desperate. I could care less what the M’s do though.
$3513744
and here i thought you meant they’d pull that deal off the table.
TbRays14
Rays receive: Walker, Franklin, LA Top prospect, Smoak
Dodgers receive:Price, rays prospect
Mariners receive:Kemp, Joyce
$3513744
that’s a steal of a deal for the dodgers if all they’re giving up is a prospect and getting price
TbRays14
Ya but all were interested in is Walker and if the mariners need kemp to get them there then do it
$3513744
if that’s the case there’s no need for the dodgers. price is more valuable than kemp right now unless the dodgers are eating a huge chunk of change. but crazier things have happened. regardless if i’m the m’s and the rays in this deal i’d pull out just out of sheer spite for the fact that they are giving up so little and getting so much in return.
TbRays14
Ya but the mariners aren’t willing to trade Walker now so maybe this is how we convince them
$3513744
convince them by offering them less for the guy they aren’t willing to trade? what?
TbRays14
Maybe they’re looking for a power bat to protect cano more than someone to bolster their rotation
Josh Blackfeild
I agree. Although its cool to imagine Price and King Felix in the same rotation.
$3513744
riiiight. but your’e ignoring the fact that they are interested in both price and kemp, which has been pretty clear. and when they’re not willing to give up Walker for Price, offering them less in Kemp makes zero sense. the ridiculous thing in all of this is that the front office is such a wild card right now, maybe this is exactly what happens.
TbRays14
It’s the winter meetings anything can happen! Lol
$3513744
if that’s the case, i predict a 25 way trade.
TbRays14
Haha whatever the trade I see price getting traded within the next two weeks. Even though I don’t want to see him go, his cost is way out of our range
$3513744
it’ll be like white elephant gift exchange.
drwheelock
Sounds like everyone is out of the Price sweepstakes except for Seattle as of this afternoon and evening. AND it sounds like BoSox and Detroit are out of Kemp, and the only one left standing is Seattle on Kemp too.
When things get down to 1 team, the return isn’t as good normally. Shield last year had many suitors. Sounds like this past year teams are getting VERY protective over their prospects for 1-2 year rentals of these top tier players. Just saying
Gop5
Yeah, but neither team has to trade either player right now. The Rays can wait til the deadline or next summer, and the Dodgers can wait for Kemp to return and gain value.
faceforest
His cost really isn’t out of the Rays range. We could keep him for a
season and be fine. If the Mariners don’t crack now, wait till the
middle of the season and see the Rays get big change for when all the
teams with prospects to burn come lining up outside AF’s door. The Rays
will keep him if they don’t get exactly what they want. And what they
want is a landslide of prospects. They want
a trade that tops the Shields/Myers one. Walker is their target, they will get him.
Gop5
They won’t ever get Walker. I think more and more teams saw what happened to the Royals because of that Shields/Myers trade, and are holding onto their prospects. Plus, waiting a year will hurt them more. A year of control left for Price at that point then looking to get a guy like Walker (who will be basically untouchable at that point after establishing himself as a future rotation spot, like Harvey for example), just won’t happen. Price’s value will never be higher than now, and already teams don’t want to part with top prospects, and definitely won’t for a rental next year.
DiaperRauch
It’s a matter of value. A run prevented is just as valuable as a run earned.
If player A is more valuable than player B, you should want player A. It doesn’t matter what position the two players play, you want value.
TbRays14
In some ways that’s true. But when you have an abundance of a position and that “Player A” doesn’t fit, but “Player B” fills the need then he has more value because he fits the team
$3513744
except that this is Seattle, and they need both Player A and B.
TbRays14
That’s true. But I think we have to agree that there offense is lacking way more that there pitching with King Felix leading the way
DiaperRauch
The Mariners don’t have an abundance of anything. They have Felix/Iwakuma, then Beavan/Noesi/Ramirez/Saunders/Walker. There’s plenty of space for David Price.
You obviously want balance on a 25-man roster, but it’s rare to be rationally justified in taking the worse player to achieve that end.
drwheelock
He can’t protect Cano in a boot cast!
Will Ferman
A bit uneven but I’ve seen crazier more lopsided trades happen.
Josh Blackfeild
That would shake things up.
Matt Galvin
Rays get Lee,Ackley,Crosby,Smoak
Mariners get Price,Seager,Pederson
Dodgers get Zunino,Miller,Rondon,Beckham,Colome
Tigers get Kemp,Lobaton,Fifle
TbRays14
Rays won’t do it for anything less than Zunino or Walker coming to tampa
Josh Blackfeild
Yeah. This is just more players for Maddon to mix in with his lineups.
The_Unnatural
So the M’s give up their catcher, SS, 1B, and Ackley for a pitcher they don’t really need and 2 prospects. The M’s are trying to win in 2014 not in 2016. Edit: Price will be gone then so it’s just a bad deal for them.
DiaperRauch
The Rays keep Hak-Ju Lee, get struggling players who’ve been exposed at the major league level (Smoak, Crosby, Ackley), and give up Beckham, Colome, Lobaton, and Price?
Try again.
weaselpuppy
Tigers don’t have the money to take Kemp, keep Kinsler, re-sign Miggy in 2 yrs and Max next year. I think Kinsler would be involved, but I love that deal for the Tigers…Rondon and
weaselpuppy
Crosby for Kemp?awesome.
Kirk Edward Gerwin
2011: Tiger’s don’t have money
Next Day: The Detroit Tigers sign Prince Fielder
nwh2787
No way Major League Baseball would approve this trade. Too many players involved.
gwell55
That won’t work you got the rays getting way to much for price and seattle getting nothing for top prospect plus++. Dodgers also can’t get price for giving up nothing besides Kemp who would have to give way to many Millions to Seattle. It might work in Seattle got Price & a + prospect for Franklin, Smoak and Mike Zunino.
The_Unnatural
So Seattle gives up Walker, Franklin, and Smoak, and they get a broken down Kemp for $21MM a year and some mediocre outfielder? Sounds like a steal.
bleedDODGERblue
Detroit should trade for Ethier. Would not cost as much in a trade and would platoon nicely with Rajai Davis
DerekJeterDan
But can you imagine a healthy 3-4 combo of Cabrera and Kemp…
Ausome7
Prince who?
bleedDODGERblue
No but I can imagine a 1-5 of Crawford, Puig, Hanley, Kemp, Gonzalez
Bill Smith
Sounds good assuming Crawford, Kemp and Hanley stay healthy, and Puig doesn’t get in any more legal trouble.
Portland Micro-Brewers
Speeding tickets?
drwheelock
No I can’t imagine that.
Erich Dobson
Kemp has speed… why not Kemp Cabrera?
Josh Blackfeild
Usted to have speed is more like it.
Erich Dobson
Got more speed than Cabrera. But you have a point… keep the big man in front and you might keep Kemp healthy longer
weaselpuppy
Ethier is owed a lot of money and his production has been pretty meh. They won’t get much if anything back for him while they are eating money…
EightMileCats
Either is worth almost nothing… Especially with the contract. Poor glove, poor bat against righties, below average power for his position
bleedDODGERblue
You must have missed the part where I said platoon him with Rajai Davis. Ethier is a plus bat against righties which most pitchers are. Add in the Dodgers kicking in money as part of the deal and any team with an OFer who hits lefties better than righties [Det-Rajai Davis] should be interested
Josh Blackfeild
To be fair, did you even read my comment?
Josh Blackfeild
That makes no sense. Either would be in the same situation he’s in now. It might even be worse. How is Detroit going to fit him in with Hunter, Jackson, Davis, and Dirks?
Brandon Fields
The chances of Scherzer having a cy young season again are pretty low, he has been a inconsistent pitcher his whole career so maybe the Tigers could trade him for Kemp. And then they could go out and sign Garza or something to replace him. I love Max scherzer and think hes a great pitcher but If he could land the Tigers Matt Kemp I might be ok with letting him go.
How about Austin Jackson and a few prospect from the Tigers and Dodgers to the Rays, David Price to the Dodgers and Kemp to the Tigers. I think this could help all three teams.
Josh Blackfeild
How do you figure his chances are “pretty low” ?
$3513744
he flipped a coin a thousand times. when i did it, his chances were pretty good. though my thumb is sore now.
Guest 4010
I don’t think its pretty low and I love scherzer don’t get me wrong, its just look at his career. He has never been that consistent and I’m not sure if I would want to give him this huge extension if it’s not worth it. I don’t want to give up scherzer but if we could get Kemp I may do it. Scherzer is really good and will have more good years ahead of him, I just don’t think the chances of him having the cy young award type year again are very high.
DiaperRauch
Why do people think Matt Kemp with his contract is in any way valuable.
Erich Dobson
Based on the contracts dished out this offseason, and the rumor that Kemp can be had for 18 Mil a year, he is relatively cheap… Who would you rather role the dice on 6 years of Kemp at 18 Mil, 7 Years or Ellsbury at 22 Mil, 10 years of Cano at 24 Mil per, 3 Years of Beltran at 15 Mil, or 4 Years of Grandyman at 15 Mil? Kemp can be a value play.
$3513744
since it’s not my money, i’m taking Cano hands down.
Erich Dobson
Ha! I’m not knocking Cano by any means… damn good player… Just demonstrates the crazy elevation in contracts this year and the risk reward. Choo will probably sign for way more than 18 Mil per year… He may get on base a lot, but when healthy Kemp is way better than Choo. If you’re a team with several holes in your outfield with few prospects in the pipeline, Kemp can be you last shot at getting an MVP caliber player for under 22 Mil…
drwheelock
Dbacks got Trumbo, so they are out of the Choo race. Boras the same type of contract as Ellsbury got 7yr $153M…That’s INSANE! For this reason Texas is now out. Yanks have 6 OFers at the present, LAD has 4 OFers + an awesome top CF Prospects just waiting in the wings and ready. The big money market teams are out after the Ellsbury signing, so that “technically” should lower the price on Choo … but Boras’ will be Boras and somehow pull a rabbit out of his hat!
Erich Dobson
Agreed that the big money is out of play and it “should” lower the value of Choo. Also wouldn’t be surprised if Boras overplays his hand and Choo signs a big one year contract and hits next years market without as much outfield competition (unlikely but possible.) But as you said Boras is Boras and 20 Mil per over 5 years would not shock me in the least.
drwheelock
I’ve been hearing this week that Kemp can be had for 16M/yr with decent prospects given up…and that doesn’t mean a teams top 10 prospects either.
Erich Dobson
Any team who doesn’t jump on that would be stupid!!! I don’t care what prospect. The odds are way better that Kemp gets and stays healthy than it is that any prospect works out. For 16 Mil… only 1 Mil per year more than Grandy… I’m taking that risk all day in this market.
Jon Combs
They would likely be getting rid of Dirks instead of Jackson. Wouldn’t the Dodgers be interested in Kinsler at 2nd base to start off? Possibly Kinsler and Porcello. Tigers could then hopefully bring back Infante.
nwh2787
I don’t think Kinsler is going anywhere
northsfbay
Why would the Tigers want to trade Kinsler?
DiaperRauch
Nothing makes sense anymore.
Jon Combs
Because they’d be getting Kemp?
nwh2787
Three team trade: Mariners, Tigers and Dodgers
Dodgers get:
C Mike Zunino
IF Patrick Kivlehan
LHP James Paxton
Mariners get:
Austin Jackson
Chris Withrow
Tigers get:
Matt Kemp
Tyler Pike
northsfbay
The Tigers and Mariners say no.
Ausome7
The mariners could get Kemp for what their giving up in that. I think a cubs dodgers tigers trade could work with the major pieces being Baez kemp and Jackson
drwheelock
Heck they M’s might get Kemp AND Price in that package. lol
Josh Blackfeild
This is just moving pieces around instead of a 2 team trade.
DiaperRauch
The only way that gets done is if LAD assumes almost all of Kemp’s contract. I don’t think you could offer Kemp with his whole contract alone to any team and have them take it.
I’d rather have Austin Jackson than Matt Kemp and his contract, I don’t know why Seattle would trade away their catcher of the future and leave a black hole, or trade away Pike/Paxton/Zunino for two years of a decent outfielder and a reliever.
The_Unnatural
Don’t forget Patrick Kivlehan. The M’s would be giving up him too.
DiaperRauch
Frankly I didn’t have the energy to look up Kivlehan’s #’s.
The_Unnatural
Worst deal for the M’s yet.
$3513744
i’ll beat that then:
Dodgers get:
Zunino
Paxton
Ackley
50MM from M’s
Rays get:
Walker
Smoak
Franklin
Miller
50MM from M’s
M’s get:
Withrow
tis the season for giving.
Josh Blackfeild
wow
nwh2787
Wait why would the Dodgers be getting 50mm?
northsfbay
The Dodgers will eat salary to get a good return on Kemp. Good luck on that one.
BrandonBochy
Dodgers will trade Kemp to the Rangers for Mitch Moreland, Robbie Ross and Roughned Odor.
Steven Russell
sure are they eating 100 million of the contract then?
IDoNotBowToCommies
The Dodgers should just platoon the 4 OFs. Some guys love to play every day, but on a team of stars, even stars need days off to ensure a well rested September. I’d rather start 120 games with a WS contender, than over 160 with the…..Astros. They’ll get good money in blue — just run with it. Besides, Kemp will either get better or he’ll eventually injure out.
I remember having the “glut” of starting pitchers…then suddenly finding you don’t have anybody but Kershaw and Ryu to put on the mound.
Josh Blackfeild
There’s way to much drama in LA. Somebody would be crying every day because they didn’t play that night.
mrshyguy99
but dodgers are 5 OF deep, so trade one dodger then they have a decent option in van skyle who they can use and gordon could be a back up CF if that working out for him
thegrayrace
SVS is absolutely awful defensively. He should be nothing more than an emergency option in the OF. Ideally he’d just back up AGon at 1B and be a power bat off the bench.
Ultimately the Dodgers have 5 decent OFers if you include Pederson. 3 of them are lefties. I’d trade either Ethier or Crawford, not Kemp. Otherwise, the Dodgers are really weak from the right side of the plate.
Keith Richards
I’d trade Jackson in a heartbeat if it meant fitting in a healthy Kemp. A HEALTHY KEMP! The Kemp of the past two seasons, no thanks.
$3513744
i’m sure that they’d just get kemp, and won’t actually get to choose which version they want. almost positive it doesn’t work like a video game.
mrshyguy99
if there a kemp trade, dodgers need to get some IF prospects. since they are fully stock in pen arms and starting pitchers in the farm
trenigro
Nick Franklin
BlueSkyLA
If the Dodgers trade Kemp what they will really need is someone to play CF.
mrshyguy99
ethier was decent, puig might be able to do it, but dodgers dont want it, they have pederson if they feel he ready and Gordon might be a option if that spot works for him.
BlueSkyLA
Ethier was just passable in a desperate situation. Puig even less so. Pederson is still in AA. Not a plan for making the team better. Not a plan for winning.
mrshyguy99
well dodgers know what their doing if they are thinking of trading kemp. they arent worry about CF like us fans are. i think they have a plan if kemp was traded.i have faith in the owners.
BlueSkyLA
I’ve said many times: they are not thinking seriously of trading Kemp. It’s a fishing expedition. If nobody can tell me how the team is made better by trading him (and nobody has yet) then maybe it really doesn’t make any sense.
$3513744
there’s only two ways they get better. one they get a hefty return, or two is worst case scenario where he is always injured and they trade him before having to pay him the rest of that contract.
mrshyguy99
a feeling is dodgers feel kemp if healthy might not be the same so why not look to see what kind of value he has.
mrshyguy99
well i might not know a good reason to trade him, but i tend to not disagree with what the owners have in plan for the team. since everything they done so far has been great. only down side they allowed ned to sign league for that crazy contract
BlueSkyLA
Let’s put it this way, then. So far these owners have been all about winning. If they traded Kemp at what is likely to be the lowest value he will have in his career, and then patch the hole they created with a bunch of bit players, then I’d be more than a little disappointed with them. It would be a McCourt type move, and I don’t know a single LA fan who would see it any other way.
Matt Galvin
Tom V. Says 2.National League could get him in his Rumor that could happen so maybe the Reds for Phillips and Bailey and then Dodgers Trade a SP and Gordon to the Mets for Murphy and so on?
Josh Blackfeild
What?
Josh Blackfeild
If I were the Dodgers, a team I don’t like, I would keep fan favorite Kemp mostly because none of the current OF can play CF. Then I’d try to get infield prospects for Either. It’ll be hard to sell high though.
mrshyguy99
well ethier wouldnt get the return that kemp would
Josh Blackfeild
Either has done nothing to help the team and getting anything in return would improve them.
mrshyguy99
a .272 avg with 12 HR is more then nothing and he help the dodgers in CF when they needed one.
Josh Blackfeild
But he can’t even play CF!
Josh Blackfeild
Of his 1145 ML games, only 75 were in CF.
mrshyguy99
he did it last season for 74 games at a .986% he might not be a big time CF, but he isnt a bad one ethier. yes he might be more a RF. but if needed he can be a decent CF. also one reason he only has 75 games in CF 2 words matt kemp
Josh Blackfeild
I don’t think you realize how hard it is to play CF.
$3513744
i think RF is harder
Josh Blackfeild
How so?
$3513744
i hate how the ball slices there. it’s easier to read the ball in CF.
Josh Blackfeild
Alright whatever. Its extremely hard to transition to a position you’ve only played a few times.
$3513744
the only thing harder about CF is you have more ground to cover and further to throw.
mrshyguy99
he might of not played CF in the majors but he has played it in the past when he was in college. so it not like he was playing CF for the first time in his life.
mrshyguy99
CF might be hard, but come on ethier did pretty well for him self if you think it or not. alot of teams i bet would take that from ethier in CF.
Cam
I’m exactly with you on your comments, although it’s not really “selling high” on Ethier, his peak seemed to be a few years ago.
Cam
Rosenthal tweets exactly what everyone already knows anyway.
Matt Talbert
Do you think the Mets might get in the running for Choo? Sure Dodgers fans kinda want to shed one of Kemp/Crawford/Ethier…sure us Atlanta fans want to rid ourselves of BJ/Uggla….but as you are finding out – its tougher than it looks and basically if you have a bad contract you are Bobby Bonillaing it for awhile (maybe learn your lesson!) XD. Choo is a good player but is he worth 20% of your payroll AAV? Eh no thanks.
$3513744
did you really just ask a question only to answer yourself?
Josh Blackfeild
Bobby what?
mrshyguy99
i dont think it about it being hard, it about the dodgers getting the right deal. they arent going to trade kemp just to trade him. dodgers want to get the best deal they can if they are to trade him. crawford the only one out of the 3 who would be the hardest to deal
Daniel Rajan
Matt Kemp in Angel red would look nice. Sadly, don’t think it is going to happen.
Josh Blackfeild
And push Mike Trout out of CF?!
Daniel Rajan
Keep Trout in CF. Kemp would have to learn how to play LF. Imagine a healthy Kemp, Trout and Hamilton. I guess I’m the only one dreaming here.
Josh Blackfeild
I’d rather stick with Kole Calhoun.
Daniel Rajan
Calhoun over Kemp?
Josh Blackfeild
Well he’s young, cheap, and was hot at the end of 2013.
mrshyguy99
angels need pitching more then they need a guy like kemp. they have enough bats, but they wont do anything if they cant get decent pitching. so the trumbo trade was huge for them in getting pitching help
northsfbay
The Angels haven’t learned their lesson on big contracts yet?
kungfucampby
If you’re a GM and you’re not inquiring on Matt Kemp you should be fired.
northsfbay
Teams have no interest in Kemp after seeing his medical reports. A GM that trades for Kemp on the DL all the time should be fired.
Josh Blackfeild
A GM that gets MVP Kemp should be praised.