6:51pm: A source from the Dodgers indicates there are no significant discussions between the Dodgers and Red Sox involving Kemp or Lester, the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo tweets.
4:00pm: The Red Sox are considering a trade with the Dodgers involving Matt Kemp and Jon Lester as the principals, a club source tells Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com. The Dodgers’ interest in Lester was reported yesterday by Edes.
Kemp’s name is being floated since the Dodgers are unwilling to part with top outfield prospect Joc Pederson, according to Edes. Centering a deal around Kemp, however, is problematic from the Red Sox’s perspective because of the $107MM remaining on his contract. For the deal to make any sense for Boston, Edes reports the Dodgers would have to be willing to eat a considerable amount of money, but they might be willing to do so for a pitcher of Lester’s caliber despite him being no more than a two-month rental. The Red Sox preference, however, is a package centered around Pederson.
Earlier today, it was reported Kemp is a backup plan for the Mariners while the Yankees are not currently in on the Dodgers outfielder. Kemp has been linked to the Indians and Rangers, as well.
Edes also notes Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels is not available and the Red Sox have not inquired about Cliff Lee. For more on the 2014 trade market, check out MLBTR’s position-by-position breakdown.
Wow
If the best they’re going to offer is Kemp, the Sox should go to another team with Lester.
Yup, agreed. No sense in ruining the team for the next 4 years.
woah woah woah… Kemp has 5 years left.
wishful thinking on my part, lol.
In this case the comp pick for losing him as a free agent would have more value. If this is what they can get then hang onto him.
Well, let’s not go crazy. Kemp’s a proven MLB-caliber outfielder. It’s the contract he comes bundled with that makes this unideal. They can do better. If Kemp came packaged with, say, a prospect like Anderson/Reed/Windle and Schebler or Bellinger… It’s not a bad offer provided a top prospect isn’t out there.
My comment was meant if it was basically just Kemp. Kemp has negative value. Lester has tons of value, though somewhat limited due to his contract being up. If Kemp came with Lee, Reed, Dominquez and/or other quality guys it may be decent, but I don’t want any part of Kemp. Especially not at the cost of giving up a talent like Lester. Also, Kemp has proven that he actually can’t play in the outfield. He is a horrendous defender.
Dodgers should just give you guys zach lee
Just like I think they can do better than Kemp, they could do better than Lee. Lee and Kemp together would be a nice package, but with the way the Dodgers have valued their top prospects (rightfully so in the case of Seagar/Pederson/Urias) I can’t see them putting both Lee and Kemp in the deal.
Jose Dominiguez?
How about Giancarlo for Urias,Seager,Lee, and Withrow? Ik this will not happen this year, but is it plausible?
Don’t see it ever happening, to be honest. The odds of Giancarlo being traded are pretty slim, and I don’t even think that’s for lack of the Marlins trying. Stanton’s trade value is sky-high. Higher than most, if not all teams, are willing to go. The Dodgers, Pirates, Cardinals, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers, and Cubs all have the pieces to acquire him, but I don’t see any of them being willing to bankrupt the farm system to do so. I think you see teams wait it out and hope he hits free agency. But anyway, back to Lester and Kemp.
Man Kemp, Crawford and Ethier are around for a minimum of 3 years after this one as is Puig, you would think if they were to go after Stanton they would be willing to include Pederson. You gotta think the Dodgers wouldn’t mind the National league adding the DH.
If they can do better than Kemp and they can do better than Lee, they can do better than Kemp + Lee.
Kemp has negative trade value right now, and it’s not close. Even if LA takes on a lot of his contract, he’s an abysmal defensive outfielder who isn’t showing any signs of returning to his elite offensive output.
If there’s anything here at all, you’d have to think there would be more involved. Hard to imagine that Kemp for Lester straight up gets done if everybody is sober.
The only reason this trade makes sense is if the Sox think they will resign him after the season ends…2 years ago this would have been an even trade but today, Lester is so much more valuable than Kemp
I feel fairly confident in saying that this would be the worst trade in the history of the Boston Red Sox.
That was Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson. I doubt this comes close.
Anderson was decent out of the pen, and didn’t stick the sox with a horrendous contract for an injury risk player who can’t play defense.
We traded a perennial all star at a power position who hit 449 career home runs for a middle reliever. I have to go with that being worse than trading two months of Lester for an average leftfielder. Unless we pick up the entirety of the contract. Then I’d have to agree.
Especially if Lester comes back to Boston as a free agent as he said he would be interested in.
Then we would have not one, but two, huge contracts in our hands – not a good scenario. Of course, in a couple of years, we could offer Lester and Kemp back to the Dodgers for Urias and another prospect 😛
Eh, they can afford it.
Maybe this is Boston’s way of paying the Dodgers back for that blockbuster a few seasons ago. I never could imagine how they got LA to take all those bad contracts. Maybe Kemp is the bad contract to be named later coming Boston’s way.
good point there. Maybe there was a secret “you can crush us in a deal in a year or two in exchange” situation. (I don’t actually believe this so don’t dump on me for it.)
Doubtful. Yes, the deal helped the Sox bigtime in terms of salary relief, but Gonzo and Beckett certainly have not been wasted talent since going West.
That salary relief was everything. It allowed Boston to rid themselves of bad contracts with players who we’re turning toxic. There’s no WS last season without that deal, and no other team was financially positioned to make it.
It was just half the equation. Two teams benefited. The Dodgers wouldn’t have won the NL West without Gonzo, Beckett and Crawford. It worked out for both teams. End of story.
It really was only one bad contract in Crawford. Beckett and Gonzalez have been solid since joining LA and in the case of Beckett the remainder of the contract was not that long.
I think a man named Babe Ruth would say otherwise.
He wasn’t traded, he was sold.
Cherington should get fired on the spot if he does this
Why even consider this what a horrible trade, has Cherington lost his marbles??
No way Cherington keeps his job if this happens, right? Unless Kemp returns to MVP form I guess.
If he even agrees to this trade he needs to be fired before he can file the paperwork to get it official.
To me, the only way the Dodgers deal Pederson for Lester is if they can get Lester to sign a contract with them. Otherwise, Kemp (and most of his contract) for half a season of Lester probably makes sense from their perspective.
I think Mariners might swoop in later as they go to Plan B. Might be willing to pay more than the red sox
Kemp for a can of beans makes sense, so of course getting a good pitcher makes sense. The trade makes zero sense for the Red Sox.
Only way this is plausible is if Seager is going to Boston with him, in which case it’s an awful trade for LA
Colleti has already stated he has no intention of giving any of Urias, Pederson and Seager. So unless he is lying, which he might be, I seriously doubt that.
GMs say that kind of thing all the time. It’s their job to put forth that their prospects are extremely valuable to them, that doesn’t mean they won’t actually consider trading them.
True, I was under the impression new Dodgers’ FO was dedicated to rebuilding the farm, which is why I trust his word more readily than I normally would.
What about Kemp + Seager for Lester + Middlebrooks?
That is a terrible deal from the Dodger’s stand point. Why trade a top 25 prospect in baseball for a guy who can’t hit and half a year of a pitcher who is at best a number 3 on the team?
Where Lester would slot in the Dodgers’ rotation is irrelevant. Lester is what he is. It just so happens that the Dodgers have a pretty strong rotation with Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu.
It seems like a lot to give to me too, but it seems like teams are willing to pay that price for an established piece at the deadline. If you’re looking for an ESTABLISHED piece, Lester fits that bill completely. He has a long track record, and perhaps most importantly, his postseason numbers are strong.
It is not irrelevant where he slots in that the Dodger’s rotation is strong enough that Lester is at best their number 3 starter. That tells me that if the team is going to pay a premium for a veteran player it needs to be at a position that there will be a clear upgrade. Lester, as good as he is, is not worth as much to LA as he would be to say Pittsburgh or Atlanta or just about every other MLB team for that matter.
I am willing to bet quite a bit of money that this doesn’t happen.
This reeks of idle conversation turning into rumor with little to no traction at all.
God, please…NO!
If the Dodgers ate a decent chunk(make it 15mil a year) and still send a few nice prospects along with Kemp it wouldn’t be that bad of a deal for the Red Sox. Though the injury problems would make me say no if I was the Red Sox.
The dodgers aren’t eating 15 mill a year and sending nice prospects for a rental in Lester that they can’t extend a QO to.
Only way the sox take kemp is if the dodgers
1. send 40-50 mill to help pay for kemp
2. send a good prospect like Urias and the Red Sox take on the contract in return for Lester. Essentially giving up someone to eat that money so they don’t have to.
Edit: unless you meant the sox are sent money to knock his price down to 15 mill not 21. Even then the best they’d look at is a guy like Zach Lee.
Yeah I meant make his yearly salary down into the 12-15mil range a year. All I am saying is the idea is a lot more realistic than some think and also isn’t as bad for the Red Sox as some think.
The whole point of the Dodgers eating a huge part of his contract is so they WON’T have to ship “a few nice prospects along with Kemp”. If they didn’t eat his contract, THEN they would have to ship prospects in order to get the trade done. Lester would definitely be an upgrade over Haren for sure but honestly I am still holding out hope Kemp can return somewhat to form. If the Dodgers eat a good chunk of his contract, the Red Sox could easily have a win in this trade, simply based on the fact that the Dodgers may have zero guarantee of extending Lester if they acquire him.
Matt Kemp / Zach Lee / Chris Anderson / Jose Dominguez + 50 Mil
For
John Lester / Brian Johnson / Simon Mercedes
smdh….
Any way the Sox can figure out a way to take on Ryan Howard’s contract as well with this trade?
Lester for Kemp + Seager, with Dodgers eating very little of Kemp’s salary looks like a win-win
Seager is not going anywhere. Dodgers are not some poor team that needs to sell prospects for salary relief.
While I agree Seager is probably staying, the Dodgers would love to do something about their current OF situation. 3 guys making too much money and not producing, and a top prospect rotting in the minors
Yes but they could just DFA one if it means they have to trade away a top prospect to “fix” the problem.
not that they’ve proven not to, but do the Dodgers have an infinite payroll? highly doubt someone picks up Kemp’s contract straight up
You don’t usually sell prospects for salary relief because their salaries are small by definition. You *trade* prospects to get a top of the rotation pitcher for the playoff run, such as Lester.
But in our rotation he is not a top of the rotation pitcher.
Our rotation? Are you part of the organization? Where Lester slots into the Dodgers rotation is irrelevant, his value is based performance, contract status, and the market for pitching.
Well them, looks as he holds no value for us when he’s only a two month rental and at best would be our #3 starter in exchange for Kemp and any of our top prospects. As another Sox fan said Sox should move on and trade him to some other team.
And yea, im a die hard Dodgers fan that makes me part of the team.
I really hate when people complain about the possessive reference to teams. If you support your team, then you have the right to say “we” or “our” when you refer to them.
And where he slots in is totally relevant. If he is at best a number 3 in the rotation that means come playoff time it is a tossup between him and Ryu for a start in the playoffs. Granted, I would take Lester 99/100 times given his experience, but the point still remains. Additionally, he is a FA at the end of the year and that plays a big part in how much we (the Dodgers) should give up.
In the playoffs Lester is every bit as valuable as Kershaw and better than Greinke!
The original post suggested sending Seager WITH Kemp so that the Dodgers don’t have to eat money. That is like selling a prospect.
It’s a moot point because Stan Kasten doesn’t deal elite prospects for rent-a-players. And Seager is concensus top 15-20 talent.
Whatever money they save by giving up a guy like Seager they can use to rebuild that bullpen next off season. The dodgers send anyone but Pederson like Seager Urias Lee they’d get away with dumping most his contract. Easily saving 70-85 mill. That’ll rebuild the bullpen for more runs at the WS.
Seager is the Dodgers #1 prospect. He is going nowhere.
If the red sox say we will take kemps ENTIRE contract you’d have to consider dealing Seager. They need bullpen help, they need to resign Hanley, they’ll need new 4/5 starters. Is Seager really worth 100 million? Cause being unwilling to deal Seager to unload 100 mill you’re saying he’s worth that much. It’s great he’s the top prospect but 100 mill could help the dodgers fill holes the next 3 years. Seager fills one void if Hanley leaves. Hanley doesn’t Seagers wasting away in the minors. Cause Hanley Gordon the Cuban infielders they signed they’ll have to unload somebody.
Red Sox aren’t taking Kemp’s entire contract so your point is moot. Seager is still about a year and a half away. and the 100 mil you are talking about is nothing. MLB doesn’t have a salary cap and the Dodgers owners are bloated with cash. They don’t have a spending limit. Seager is the type of prospect that you don’t trade unless it is in a package for someone like Tulo or Giancarlo Stanton.
Seager won’t fetch you price, Stanton, Tulo. Pederson Seager Urias and Lee would have to be given up. You aren’t getting any of those unless you toss in the other 3. You won’t get any of those for Seager and some other prospects. End of story. Furthermore the dodgers are the top spending team in the league. You really think they wanna continue to pay underwhelming kemp for 5 more years at 20 a pop and continue to add money upward of 250 mill? Yeah cause you know spending that much has gotten them so far already. By your theory they’ll continue to pay kemp, they’ll resign Hanley, they’ll try to add bullpen help and all the while the owners would be okay spending that much underwhelming like they have this season? Where do you think money comes from trees? Just cause they’re rich doesn’t meann they’ll continue to add salary hoping to win a WS. 250mill is a lot to pay to not win a WS. Even if they DFA nobody is picking up the contract. The dodgers will be on the hook still. Best chance they have is to get the Red Sox or any team to take on that contract as much as possible.
The need to unload the contract would mean more if the Dodgers had money problems. They don’t. The real issue is whether trading Kemp for Lester is really an improvement for the team. People talk about Pederson as if he is the second coming of Duke Snider. The guy has serious problems hitting LHP and his strikeouts are very high. Is that all of the sudden going to change when he makes it to the big leagues?
Not that adding Lester will be bad, it is just not going to provide the same impact if it costs Kemp and one of the top 5 prospects in the system.
No way Seager is part of any trades.
True. Sub in a lesser prospect for Seager and that may make more sense
Not even close. Seager and Kemp for 2 months of Lester? For that we can throw in Z. Lee and J. Domingez and go after Price or Hammels. Bo Sox will get Kemp and Rojas or something like that.
That is insanity.
yep, Seager isn’t being traded, especially for a two month rental
Nothing more than idle talk. For one thing, the Dodgers don’t need Lester. Our rotation is loaded. And Lester has already said that he plans to return to the Red Sox if he gets traded. We’re going to get something of real value if/when Kemp gets traded.
Straight up? I love this idea. Go Blue.
Pederson for Lester and Webster.
They don’t want Webster.
Pretty confident nobody does.
Had Webster once, we don’t want him back
So what is plan b for a number one starter for the Red Sox next year, because they would have to see how Lester hitting the open market means he’s unlikely to resign right?
Personally, I hope that if Lester doesn’t come back they don’t make a drastic move to bring in another ace. I’d rather the Webster/De La Rosa/Workman/Ranaudo quartet get their chance to play.
So in that scenario Lackey is the number 1? No thank you. You need a better pitcher and veteran presence at the top of the rotation. De La Rosa, Workman and Webster have done absolutely nothing to prove they can make up the majority of a rotation. 4 and 5 sure, but not at the top.
Yeah, I don’t imagine most people agree with me. I tend to favor the prospects. For me, if they’re going to target a free agent other than Lester, I hope the highest they go is Shields.
Were you pleased with what you saw of Webster today? Because my heart couldn’t take an entire season of that. They played games with Lester and now they’re going to have to pay. I don’t really prefer Shields to Lester, and i can see not wanting to be stuck with a bad contract, but there’s no reason to just assume he tanks. If anything with Shields being older, you run the risk of him losing his stuff before Lester does. This reeks of the Red Sox FO trying to pull another fast one. They need to reign it in before next season blows up in their faces before it has even started.
I know he’s tough to watch, but Webster really needs more of a chance. Counting today, he’s only thrown 35.2 MLB innings. He’s got enough potential to be given a better shot than that before we give up on him. See if he can make the adjustments, get the pitches under control, and if not give Ranaudo or Barnes a shot, or maybe even Owens and Johnson next year.
By the way, I agree about Lester. I really want him back, and it’s the home team bias speaking, but even though it’s going to cost market value at this point I feel they need to do it. If not, I’m just saying I don’t want them to go out and blow it all on Scherzer.
Scherzer will cost more and is having a bad year. That would be a no. I don’t know, if this deal gets done then they lose the exclusive window to negotiate with Lester. I think I’ve seen enough of Webster. The guy has serious issues throwing strikes. I’m perfectly willing to let him Workman, De La Rosa, Barnes, Johnson, Ranaudo and Owens duke it out in Spring Training next year for the four and five spots, but you need more experience in 1-3.
But you have to have someone at the top that you know is going to give you 200+ quality innings. Wainwright was such a key piece for the Cardinals to keep even with all the depth in the minors. You need stability at the top.
Lester said he would be willing to come back to Sox if traded, so why not send him to LA for Kemp? Then we can just resign him in the offseason.
Then you will have overpaid for Lester AND have Kemp!
good luck outbidding the Dodgers for Lester
Good luck outbidding the Yankees for Lester. They clearly need a new top of the rotation lefty in that ballpark and they have proven over the years that weakening the Red Sox in the process is a big bonus and worth overpayng for.
-Waiting for karkat-
Yep. This isn’t going to be a pretty thread. Cherington should be canned if he tries to make this deal.
At least a trade involving Lester probably involves ownership so maybe they could say no if it came to it
I kept my snark short and sweet. This would be so awful, though x_x
Maybe the salary dump the sox made a few years ago was like a demon deal. Now LA is here to collect.
No take backs!
Haha I highly doubt this is more than just speculation. Cherington seems to be smarter than this
Which is higher: The 4/$70M the Red Sox offered Lester or the amount of money the Dodgers would have to eat on Kemp’s contract for this to make sense?
Dodgers would probably only have to eat 50 million.
$57MM would bring the Red Sox’s share down to $10MM/year, which seems about right if the Dodgers are able to sign Lester to a long-term contract. If not, then they should only have to send them $32MM, bringing the Red Sox’s share down to $15MM/year.
If this happens I might as well become a Cubs fan.
Kershaw, Lester, Greinke, Ryu….wow
5th starter=??
Well, I was really just talking about the playoffs. But Beckett, I would assume
Can you see them calling up urias for a 5th spot in a playoff game? haha
Isn’t he 17? I’m not even sure he can legally play at the major league level. That would be insane though.
Oh dear god please no, just say NO to Kemp.
The fact that Cherington didn’t hang up the phone when Kemps name was mentioned just tells you how 100% incompetent he is.
Dude did just win executive of the year and a world series
Red Sox trade Lester for Kemp only for Lester to sign with the Red Sox in the offseason… that would be interesting.
Then, in two years the Red Sox trade both bloated contracts back to the Dodgers for prospects. Maybe Cherrington is onto something here.
Too many folks in here selectively reading, missing the key part which reads “as the principals.”
Right, as in the key players. I don’t see where anybody is misunderstanding that. The peripherals would be, what, some prospects? Some money? Lester and Kemp are the big names here.
Try telling that to the Dodger fans who don’t want to include any of their top 10 prospects no matter how great the return is. They refuse to believe that anybody else will be included in the trade. Just as the Giants fans won’t admit that they gave up anything for Peavy yesterday.
That’s because the Giants DIDN’T give anything up for Peavy. Those were nothing prospects.
We’ll see. I think that Escobar’s talent cannot possibly be quantified at the age of 22 yet, especially since the Giants rushed him through AA. He has looked out of his element in AAA for that reason and in the Sox’ organization there’s no room for him at AAA. I wouldn’t call him a ‘nothing prospect’ because it’s too soon to tell. And Peavy is 1-9 with a 4.72 ERA so I’ll take my chances with these two ‘nobodys.’
He was a top 100 prospect before he got knocked around in the PCL for about fifty innings. A league that is very hitter friendly. Yeah he may not truly be elite, but saying he is nothing seems sort of foolish.
Dodgers fans like me just don’t want to give up the big four – Urias, Seager, Pederson, Guerrero.
You’d have to give up at least one for Lester though, probably two if the Sox were taking on a significant part of Kemp’s contract (Kemp definitely has negative value at this point). The Dodger’s don’t need to trade for Lester, so maybe it doesn’t make sense for them, but that’s definitely the value for a pitcher of Lester’s caliber, especially in this market.
I agree most Dodger fans (like any team’s fans) overvalue their prospects. I for one would have no problem dealing Perderson for a Lester type pitcher or other comparable major league talent. Seagar and Urias are a different story in that they potentially will fill a need in a couple of years. The real issue is how much of an improvement are any of these prospects or players are going to provide right now in the middle of a pennant race.
This makes very little sense from Boston’s perspective. Why not take that money and just sign Lester? Red Sox need an outfielder, but they don’t need to trade Lester to get Kemp who is worth way less than his contract at the moment.
Only if Kemp’s salary is similar to what Pederson’s would be.
Sox must hold out for top prospects only. No bloated salaries. We can do so very much better than this. Look elsewhere.
Don’t though.
Lester Xander for Kemp,Urias, Withrow, LEe
that’s feels like a pretty big overpay for the Sox
isnt it pretty fair? Dodgers pay 70 mil. Lester is a two month rental
There Is No Such Thing As A 17 Year Old Pitching Prospect, Withrow is hurt, Lee is awful, Kemp is a huge unknown for the Red Sox staff ace and a top 2 prospect as recently as last season?
I’m not sure what his age has to do with it. He’s holding his own in high-A, the fact that he’s 17 is a positive, not a negative.
it’s an unknown, nobody knows how Urias’s arm is going to react, nobody knows how he’s going to age, nobody knows how his body is going to look like 4 years from now, when he is only 21
he is 17. LEt just wait and see what this deal turns out to be
No it’s not fair in the least bit. Xander isn’t going anywhere.
How much money would the Dodgers be chipping in? 20m? 35m?
I pray for 107 MM
40-70
You never know. I assumed that the Dodgers would be willing to eat a whole lot more than what is customary in these types of trades because they do have the cash to do just that.
37 million.
How much money are the dodgers willing to eat? Only way the Red Sox do this deal is if they 1. Are sent 40 mill minimum in the deal or 2. Giving up Lee/15mill or Urias to take Kemps contract.
Lester for Kemp isn’t horrible if you consider that bringing Kemp into the AL East should improve his power numbers. While he isn’t the 2011 Kemp and probably won’t ever be again, he is still an upgrade over half a season of Lester. Offensively, he is a positive WAR player, so theoretically he could replace Ortiz in the DH spot when the time comes. The Dodgers would definitely need to eat some of that contract though, and maybe include a throw-in prospect.
Lester and Uehara for Kemp, with the Dodgers eating half of Kemp’s salary and throwing in a minor prospect, like Zach Lee or Chris Reed.
Dodgers stick Lester in as No. 3 SP and Uehara sets up Jansen.
you’ve been watching too much Wall street. “Greed is good.”
Lol, I was getting greedy. On a serious note, the Dodgers aren’t trading Kemp to the Red Sox. Would make them too left-handed in the OF.
And the Dodgers too left handed, which they are already.
Yup, I agree. Need to keep Puig and Kemp in the OF.
whoa, hey, when you put it that way!
Uehara is 38 years old or 39 you guys want a number 1 prospect for him lol
Zach Lee probably isn’t a top 5 Dodger prospect
He’s not i wouldn’t mind if they threw him in a deal he has 5 era in triple A
While it doesn’t make sense in the Dodgers case, a package of Lester and Uehara to the right team could send a No. 1 prospect to the Sox depending on the team’s desire for pitching and farm system depth.
A number one prospect for two free agents doesn’t any sense their both free agents at the end of the year
Again, it is entirely dependent on the situation. It doesn’t make much sense, but really, when has a blockbuster trade that the Dodgers have made made complete sense?
The one happend last yr or two years ago it happend for the reason that the dodgers wanted a better t.v contract which they got i believe its one the biggest one ever. So i guess it doesn’t have to make sense to you lol
TV contracts aside, taking on that many large contracts in one deal is always risky.
Perhaps not but it’s not impossible. If a team thinks they are a top notch closer and proven clutch starter away from a championship and they have not won one in a while it starts to make sense.
Koji’s value is sky high right now….even at his age. With the Sox publicly stating they want Koji as closer for 2015, teams will be lining up to see what it would take to change thier kinda. People keep saying 2 month rental, more like 3 months if they have World Series aspirations. If this guy helps you win a championship, how much is that REALLY worth to you?
I don’t think anybody that’s susceptible to a midlife crisis should be worth a #1 prospect, especially a relief pitcher, no matter how good.
Also would have to factor in his post season experience.
I’m stunned at the amount of negativity in this thread. Kemp had had one year battling through injuries, and spent one year recovering. Before that he was a monster. He’s been playing a good RF and his negative value is tied into CF. Lester is gone after this season. The Sox want to be back in top form next season. The Dodgers will pay some $. What exactly are all these cries of torture about?
Nobody’s down on Kemp. At least, I’m not. But it makes very little sense if you’re Boston. Why take on that contract instead of signing your best starting pitcher to an extension? I just don’t get it, unless there are some serious prospects being discussed here.
They wouldn’t be taking on all of the contract obviously
No, but the Dodgers wouldn’t eat all of it. The Sox would likely pay 60% of it, and it’s a pretty hefty contract.
Thanks for the clarification. But to me, it seems that a 29-year-old for five years and a 31-year-old for 7 years is the question here. Look a free agency. How many bats are coming up with Kemps ability? I think Cherington has to entertain this. Oh and by the way, I’d rather not trade kemp.
What I am hearing is Bosox fans thinking they can steal Kemp by running down his value.
I don’t think any GMs are reading these comments to evaluate players.
Quite right, but lots of armchair GMs who think they know player values better than the people who actually get paid to do it. Hours of amusement.
If any MLB GM is reading these comment boards, then ownership needs to seriously re-evaluate their scouting processes.
Kemp’s value has to be extremely low at this point between the injuries/surgeries, massive contract, and lack of performance for multiple years now. Maybe there’s still a potential rebound there, but with that kind of contract and injury concern, you don’t buy on potential.
Also, I’m not running down his value to steal him; I don’t want him in Boston.
His value is not affected one way or another by his contract. Whatever it is, it is. But I don’t think anyone can fairly evaluate his worth based on missing the better part of the last two seasons, and not from chronic injuries so much as from accidental ones. Maybe he’s become accident prone, I don’t know. But I do know that before 2012 he hardly missed a game, and also that before he was injured in 2012 and 2013 he was playing very good ball. Maybe he can come back to form and maybe not, but I think it makes the most sense for the Dodgers to take that gamble.
Why do redsox fans except the dodgers to give up urias and joc for that many prospects you except a better pitcher like hamels or price besides people are complaining about kemp next would be his year he actually gets to work and isn’t doing any rehab
You obviously haven’t payed attention to how good Lester has been this year.
…or in the postseason his whole career. Dodger fans keep talking about their top 3, but you need postseason experience. I think that the Dodgers GM and owners understand that.
Actually i have he has an era of 2 but he’s on his walk year you wouldn’t want your team to give a top prospect for a 2 month rental . The A’s gave their top prospect but they knew they would have jeff for another year following this one.
Apples v. Oranges. Lester is much better than Samardzija.
Lester’s track record as a dominant postseason pitcher justifies trading a top prospect for him presuming he is headed to a team that is a likely to be a division winner with a good chance of re-signing him.
No it doesn’t when he’s a 2 month rental. Unless your the Angels.
Exactly my point.
Red Sox fans crack me up. You are begging to cling on to 2+ months of Lester who is NOT gonna resign, else he would have by now. Most of all, you guys aren’t even in the race anymore. As a Dodger fan I say Boston gets the better end of the deal. Plus, there’s no way Kemp goes anywhere without LA eating some of the contract. Have you guys looked at the free agent crop for the next couple years? In the end, Boston gets a solid right handed power bat who will crush in Fenway, for a fair market salary once the Dodgers pay up.
Sox haven’t made an offer to re-sign other that the 4-$70 from spring training. How can he re-sign if there’s no offer? Both sides want to do a deal but they haven’t, most likely because of the possibility of being where they are right now. Whether or not in the race this year, they are re-focusing on 2015, so excuse us for not just giving you Lester for nothing.
It seems Dodgers fans REALLY REALLY overvalue Kemp. He’s posted two straight negative WAR seasons, has a history of injuries, and has over 100 million left on his contract. This is a horrible, horrible trade for Boston
how so? give him an offseason to get himself physically healthy and he’ll he close to what he once was
His 2011 season was totally an aberration. He hasn’t ever come close to repeating that at any point in his career. Right now he is an overpaid outfielder who can’t hit, can’t field, and can’t stay healthy.
outhitting Chase Utley is not being able to hit?
what are your standards then?
he hasn’t had a chance to be truly healthy since April 2012, his offseasons since then have included Shoulder rehab, ankle rehab, and he’s still hitting 19% better than league average, better than Utley, Alex Gordon, Adrian Gonzalez, Pablo Sandoval
come on, man
He was on his way in 2012 til he injured his hammy
Then busted his shoulder on a wall in Colorado. He was getting back into form again last season until that bad slide into home.
Its not that. IMO, trading Kemp is a bad idea. He’s their 2nd best OF, next to Puig. I don’t like the idea of Crawford and Ethier being the daily starting OFs.
And, if the Dodgers call up Pederson, then they now have 3 left-handed OFs on the roster, which is too much.
Ethier is the better OF to trade. Even if it means you eat most of his salary and give him away. Then they can call up Pederson to play CF, with Kemp in LF and Puig in RF.
As someone else on this website commented yesterday, Ethier is a more expensive Daniel Nava.
Ethier has much better track record than Daniel Nava. Nava was a one-hit wonder.
He’s done pretty good this season after he was recalled. And he doesn’t have a terrible contract.
Ethier still has a better track record. And Ethier can play all the OF positions, especially in the smaller parks in the AL East. He has some value.
All of that made perfect sense. You have restored my faith in MLBTR forums.
Thanks. Honestly, it really is hard to find good analysis among MLB writers. They cause people to think crazy things with what they propose.
Only a few of us seem to understand this for some reason.
Eating most of the salary and not getting anything useful in return probably isn’t preferable to eating salary and getting an ace.
A rental is only worth so much, no matter who it is and of course does not address the basic point.
The basic point isn’t being put in proper context. Kemp may want out — his agent is certainly insinuating it — if he isn’t going to be playing CF
Not according to the what is being said in the LA press.
You must be reading different quotes than I am.
You mean the one where he said he was very happy to be playing RF again? This, and Puig getting the last two starts in CF seem to have gone totally unnoticed by almost everybody.
No, the numerous quotes from his agent and himself.
One of which I just mentioned.
Right. Obviously that’s the one to hang the hat on.
Obviously, as opposed to the ones where he says he really wants to play every day?
Or the one where he says he views himself as a centerfielder, and when Don Mattingly responded “He can view himself however he likes, I’m playing him in right”, Dave Stewart rings up the media and implies that Mattingly is a second-rate manager?
Stop being disingenuous.
No such exchange actually took place except in spin land, but the strangest part of the theory that Kemp is demanding to be traded to play CF is everyone knows the Dodgers aren’t playing him there for a pretty good reason. Maybe you can explain this disconnect. Nobody else has.
I think the bigger goal in trading Ethier would be to promote Joc Pederson to play CF. Ethier’s contract is a sunk cost now. They just need to open up his roster spot.
If this report is accurate, that Kemp has been proposed because Los Angeles prefers not to give up Pederson, then it seems the front office would rather open a spot for Pederson in a different way.
I think the Dodgers are listening to offers on Kemp, but I think they would need full value for Kemp if they trade him. I think Ethier is the guy they would much rather trade and would probably take back a lot lesser return for Ethier.
I think the real sticking point here is what is full value for Kemp?
Well, since he’s starting every day for the NL West leader and playoff contender and has a ceiling of being an MVP type of player when healthy, I think his value is pretty high, to the Dodgers.
They would likely only accommodate Kemp’s trade request if they got back a significant package for him, despite what Ken Rosenthal or Jon Heyman say.
According to this report, which I’ll grant is just that, a report, the Dodgers — the NL West leader and playoff contender — prefer to move Matt Kemp and money for a rental ace instead of a package centered around Joc Pederson.
Yeah, call me skeptical of that report. Dodgers are in 1st place and Kemp has been playing better of late. Not much impetus to want to trade Kemp, if you ask me.
Colletti was quoted in today’s LA Times saying that Pederson was not ready for a promotion. Either this is the case or Colletti is trying to fake us out big time. Those are really the only two options.
I think Colleti is saying that to try and keep as much value to Kemp or Ethier’s trade value as he can. If Colleti says Pederson is ready for the bigs, then it looks like he is eager to dump an OF off the roster. Its just posturing, IMO.
Could be, but I think unlikely. None of that really changes the trade value of their outfielders to other teams. It might help a little if only one team was interested but we are not getting that message, and also, Pedersen’s splits speak for themselves.
I see the most recent comments from the team and from Lester about tabling extension talks until the off-season as smoke coming from both sides. If the Sox approached Lester’s camp RIGHT NOW with a reasonable offer – say 5/115 or 5/120 with a vesting option for a 6th year – I’d say there is a very good chance Lester accepts. I’d much prefer we spend the rest of the day getting THIS done so we can spend the next few days focusing on selling off the pen.
No way would I take Kemp who’s always injured for one of the premier pitchers available. The Giants gave up two top prospects for Peavy. If Dodgers refuse their prospects I’d tell them to pound sand. The only deal I’d make is for Kemp, their top prospect and LA eating a significant portion of the $107mm
They aren’t going to give up their top prospect and pay for Kemp for a couple of months of Lester.
Honestly the red sox are kinda desperate about their outfield situation
No they aren’t, the Red Sox aren’t going anywhere this year and they know it. If they were desperate about the OF they could just call Mookie back up.
Giants didn’t give up top prospects for Peavy.
Well, they gave up a ranked prospect.
I’m surprised the Giants didn’t get Peavey AND Lester for the prospects Giant fans think they gave up.
Their top prospect means one of Pederson, Seager or Urias, and none of them would be included in this trade if LA is eating a significant portion of Kemp’s contract – that would negate that whole reasoning for eating his contract. That Dodgers would only include their top prospect IF they didn’t eat a majority of Kemp’s contract.
Keywords: “As the principals”
No way would this just be Lester for Kemp.
LOL, Boston fans better hope this isnt straight up
Well the Red Sox appear to be selling, and if the principle players are Kemp and Lester, I’m fine with that swap. I’d envision the Dodgers eating about 50-75% of the contract and including a couple of their pitching prospects not named Urias. I’d be fine with parting with Kemp (and $60-75million)+ Lee + A to AA Level Prospect. We have enough good pitching at the major league level to thrive for 5+ years with Kershaw-Greinke at the top, Ryu likely getting a nice extension in due time, and Urias likely making his debut in 2-4 years time (depending on his development) I’m quite comfortable. Adding Lester, and possibly extending someone like Lester would be the icing on the cake. Though I’d rather extend someone like Ryu over Lester honestly. Ryu is 3 years younger and appears to be adjusting quite nicely to majors in his first two years.
It could just be Lester for Kemp, with a couple of lesser names added, if the Dodgers throw in a ton of money. Lester is right now worth exactly one QO-derived pick. Trading him should net more. Kemp isn’t a bad player, he’s just an overpaid player. If the the Dodgers eat most of his salary, he won’t be overpaid.
Cheapo Ben already lowballed Lester the first time so getting something of value for him is smart if hes not returning, but old creaky Matt Kemp isnt the way to go IMO. But as a Yankee fan, I wouldnt mind it
This wouldn’t be a one for one deal, which people seem to be missing here, but if I’m the Sox I consider this. Lester looks like he’s not coming back and the team lacks any impact outfield bats in the majors or coming up in the system. If enough of the contract is eaten and the return with Kemp is a couple of B level prospects then why not do it?
If Kemp is a backup plan, what is plan A?
Andre either he’s predroias bff lol
If Lester is traded straight up for Matt Kemp it would be the second worst trade Boston has ever made; Lester, Price, Hamels are all pennant race changers;
I kind of get it for both sides, but Dodgers need to eat a lot of money 20-30 million at least of that contract. After the season is over the Red Sox could sign Lester back without losing a draft pick.
I get why most people are hesitant, Kemp has not looked like the guy that almost won the MVP a few years ago, but he could bounce back, and if he does you got a 5 tool player for the next 4 years at 10-15 mill/ year and get their ace back from free agency.
It’s a gamble, but I get it.
“Probably not, just based on the fact that going in, you know nothing about it,” Lester said of his willingness to consider an extension. “I think sometimes you can get blinded by success. Especially you come from here, right now, we’re not playing so good — you get traded to a contender, we’re back on the winning trail, everybody is happy when you’re winning. It’s always roses. You can never see the bad when you’re winning. I wouldn’t say never, but it would have to be ideal — you would have to fall into a perfect, perfect scenario.
“But my ultimate goal would be to come back here. That would be, like I said the other day, I know that’s hard to do. I know it doesn’t happen very often. But I understand it. I get it.
“Money doesn’t buy you happiness. There’s some guys, that drives them. That’s great,” said Lester. “For me, I want to be happy. I want to be comfortable. I want to be in a place that wants me and appreciates what I do.”
“Money doesn’t buy you happiness” thats easy for him to say now, but once FA rolls around, he will singing a different tune. Remember Ellsbury?
Ellsbury was offered what he was worth. Lester was offered far less.
yup
Any Sox fan can tell you that Jacoby was ALWAYS going to be leaving for top dollar. Lester has said time and time again how much he wants to stay in Boston and how money isn’t the main factor. Jacoby never said anything like that, ever. He might have issued a few token comments about how he would “consider” signing an extension and how Boston was a good place to play, but it was never difficult to read his true intentions.
He just declined Bens previous low ball offer. Im pretty sure Lester is all about the money as well, time will tell
Yes, he declined a low-ball opening-offer and the Sox messed up by not countering with something reasonable before the season started. That makes Lester all about the money?
Because he declined their previous low offer, therefore, he wants big bucks
He deserves it. He owes Boston nothing.
Again, no. He just wants something reasonable. He’s not looking for “market” value. It’s very simple.
Why shouldn’t Lester get market value?
I didn’t say he shouldn’t. I said he’s willing to accept less than that (i.e. a “reasonable” hometown discount) to play in Boston. He’s said it a dozen times.
That offer was so low it would have been ridiculous to expect him to accept it. Lester’s said that he would have signed an extension in Spring Training if the Sox had offered him anything more than Homer Bailey’s extension. That’s definitely a discount, and not a ridiculous one either.
It may be true. But if money didn’t matter, he would already be locked up long-term. Isn’t looking to max out his earnings? Maybe not. But they’re going to have to pay him fairly.
You’re right, it’s not that it doesn’t matter at all – just that it’s not his PRIMARY concern as it was with Jacoby/Boras.
“Boston, you owe us” – Ned Colletti
As an M ‘s fan I am afraid that Jack Z is going to get desperate and be dragged into this mess. I would hate for the M ‘s to get Kemp, cash, and Carp, the Dodgers to get Lester, and the Red Sox getting Walker and Franklin.
It is funny how so many people told me in another thread how a trade like this had 0% chance of happening, and even if it doesn’t, I still feel quite vindicated. To make this deal work for both teams, the Dodgers would have to pay everything except $10MM/year on Kemp’s contract in return for a 72 hour negotiating window. If the Dodgers cannot sign Lester during that window, then the Red Sox should have to pay $15MM/year of Kemp’s contract.
Lester will not be signing any extensions during 72 hour negotiating windows, and I don’t see any teams demanding that given everything he has said. If that is something Lester would seriously be willing to consider, the haul would be HUGE..but it’s not. Doesn’t mean a trade can’t still happen.
If the Dodgers offered Lester 6 years/$150MM during a negotiating window, I think that he would accept it. If not, a deal could and should still get done, but the Dodgers should have to pay less of Kemp’s contract.
Well, if you believe Lester’s comments..no, he wouldn’t accept 6/150 from the Dodgers unless he thought he was in a “perfect, perfect scenario” something I don’t think he considers LA to be.
Why not? Chavez Ravine is going to be a much better place for Lester during the later years of his career than Fenway Park.
I dont know why your so confident with Lester staying, and if you think Lackey will play next year for the league minimum your nuts. Im saying Lester is gone after this year, especially the way its transpiring
You also threw Will Middlebrooks in there…
Yes, for Scott Van Slyke, but that was hardly a major part of the deal. The fact that a professional source published a rumor about the possibility that Lester and Kemp could be the core of a deal between the Red Sox and Dodgers proves that the logic that I was applying when I suggested this deal in the other thread was sound. An apology would be nice.
Kemp? Why not Crystal Crawford? Pass on that one, Benny.
I’d imagine the thinking is that a subsidized Matt Kemp might be a decent bet to be a valuable player.
Especially in Fenway Park.
Right. It would play up his right-handed power and blunt his defensive limitations if they played in LF.
Exactly. Even though Kemp wants to play CF, Victorino is probably better suited to the position.
JBJ is finally starting to hit and is a great defensive center fielder so…
JBJ is the centerfielder. Won’t hit much, but his defense is worth it.
A platoon with Gomes makes sense. Kemp is the everyday LF, JBJ plays CF against righties and Gomes plays RF against lefties. Victorino plays CF against lefties and RF against righties.
Gomes will not even be on the team. JBJ is the everyday CF.
Gomes won’t be on the roster next year. JBJ is a lot like Gardner circa 2008. He was born to play CF, and (like Gardner) may eventually contribute a bit offensively.
The Red Sox could use a LF with power, I just don’t think Kemp is a good fit. 14 HR over his last 169 games.
I think that Fenway would be a much friendlier ballpark for Kemp than Chavez Ravine. If you want to play JBJ everyday in center and Victorino everyday in right, that’s cool. I just think that Kemp would be a monster in Fenway and no worse defensively than Manny Ramirez.
I can see that. I just look at Kemp’s track record of late. Last three years show little. Just a shell of his former self. Still young and that is a plus. Don’t know about his attitude – which has been mention. Love to see Sox get Petersen.
That’s the inherent risk. The general narrative from certain camps is that Kemp needs a real off-season to really recover from the string of surgeries he’s been dealing with.
I don’t know how much stock I put in that, but it certainly could be true. Generally as players get older, they suffer more frequent injuries, not less.
If this is a three team deal with the Mariners, has anyone else considered the possibility of Napoli heading to Seattle? Morrison or Smoak would have to go to Boston or a 4th team though.
Yeah, I thought about that. If the Sox were getting Walker, then a whole bunch of pieces could be on the move.
Sox might have put this out there to get the other teams bidding on Lester
Personally, I think Lester would look fine in pinstripes
He’d definitely help the Twins.
I agree, but the only way that happens is if Lester makes it to free agency. How much would you pay for him? I would give him 6/150 in a nanosecond.
Hmmm, perhaps. The prime target should be Jeters replacement though
Nah. I would prefer to spend on Lester and try to get someone like Didi Gregorious or Nick Franklin to play SS. I am also hoping that J.J. Hardy’s down year might make him more affordable.
I dont think putting a rookie at Jeters place is a good idea
If the Yankees are serious about acquiring Jeter’s successor now rather than in the offseason, they would’ve acquired Gregorious with McCarthy.
This would be an “interesting” trade…
Kemp had one great season, but has been injury-prone since, Lester is a top of the rotation starter who only improves in the post-season and the fact that the Red Sox haven’t extended him already baffles me. If he hits the open market he’ll join Jacoby in the Bronx and with the potential retirement of Lackey, we’d be left with De la Rosa or Buchholtz as our ”ace”.
Sounds good to me. That said, if this deal happens, I predict that Kemp becomes a monster in Fenway, bringing back shades of the Ortiz/Ramirez years.
Ownership needs stop acting like they’re Tampa or KC and start spending money, not excessively like you guys or the Dodgers, but enough to field a competitive team. The 2013 team was a fluke and they need to build it more like 2004.
Since when is Lackey retiring? He’ll definitely be seeking another contract after his essentially league minimum pay in 2015.
He’s threatened to retire if they don’t pay him more.
Fair enough. Just don’t expect him to act on that. He’d command at least a 2-year $26 million contract if he continues to perform at his current rate.
Relax. They’re going to discuss a new deal in the offseason. He won’t be playing for the league min and he’s not going to retire.
No he hasn’t, there was speculation from one writer that that scenario could arise, and people ran with it. It’s like some twisted form of the telephone game.
Your are spot on Jack.
Sox are overplaying their hand with asking for Pederson although nobody wants to admit that. Dodgers don’t “need” Lester. It would be nice, sure. But asking for the Dodgers jewel in the system for only a “rental” while telling their fanbase that “we can get Lester back in the offseason as a FA” is pretty stupid.
I know that’s not a popular thought. But it’s reality. Lester becomes attractive to the Dodgers IN CONCERT with taking Kemp off the Dodgers’ hands. Sox FO should just try to get LA to eat as much $$ if they can or forget it. You’re not getting Pederson for a 2month rental of Lester.
And stop with the “but, but, but if Lester signs with LA.” Enough. If Lester waited THIS long, he’s going to test the free agent waters. Lester is not going to agree to sign with LA after a trade if he didn’t accept any lowball offers from Boston for the first 4 months of the season.
Then no Lester. Simple.
The Red Sox aren’t overplaying their hand simply because the Dodgers aren’t particularly motivated to trade for Lester; if the Dodgers don’t want to give you what he’s worth, someone else likely will. They don’t need to trade him to the Dodgers any more than the Dodgers need to trade for him.
“someone else likely will.”
Interesting. Which teams constitute this line of teams clamoring to acquire Lester?
As a follow up, the Dodgers “need” to dump Kemp far outweighs their “need” for Lester.
Even if this is a one for one deal and LA pays all of Kemp’s deal, then what did the Red Sox even get? Another .250 hitter with a questionable glove and an even more questionable attitude. Don’t pull the trigger here…also, are the Sox not interested in moving Lackey anymore? I would figure his value would be on par with JP, if not higher.
All of you killing this deal on the Red Sox end do realize that the Dodgers are most likely sending at least half of Kemp’s future salary. That would mean the Sox would get Kemp for 5 yerars at 10 million per which is not bad for a guy when healthy is going to give you .285, 25, 90 rbis and his defense plays well in left at Fenway.
Sounds really optimistic, though.
His defense only plays well if he is on the bench. He is one of the worst defensive outfielders in the league. He has had multiple major injuries is past his prime and he thinks he should still be a centerfielder. I would not take him for ten million a year if the sox only had to give up a sandwich.
His defense is awful, and Fenway only softens that a little. He fits better at DH (once Ortiz retires), but his offense is a bit weak there. Your projections seem optimistic given what he has done the last two years, and they need production more than discount-shop bargains.
So why not Allen Craig for Lester since that was the hot topic for Peavy! Allen Craig and Rowan Wick for Lester. Yes, I’m kidding, but I’d definitely do it!
Would like that one better than Kemp.
The Dodgers being interested in Lester doesn’t mean the Sox are considering Lester for Kemp.
It does if they are talking about a trade including those 2 which they r
Kemp just doesn’t make that much sense for Boston. A defensive liability, not what he was offensively. If the Dodgers want a package involving Lester, its likely has to include Pederson. (Now Boston could include Miller and/or a prospect, but that’s what its going to likely take).
Yeah, Joc Pederson would sure get my attention. Give the Dodgers Lester for this year and a young arm for the future?
Kemp for free, plus a B-prospect and a secret agreement that Lester will resign in 2015? Maaayyybe. But I gather that’s not what we’re talking about.
Im a call chris bossard and ask him and his sources whats going on lol xD
Why?
It’s the link to the Yankees and White Sox discussing John Danks instead of Nick Cafardo’s tweet
“A source from the Dodgers indicates that there are no significant discussions between the Dodgers and Red Sox involving Kemp or Lester”
WHEW!! That was a close one!
No Kemp! This does nothing for the Sox!
Matt Kemp? seriously? if he’s the centerpiece, move along. Joc Pederson needs to be the focal point of the trade, if one is to happen. If the Dodgers feel desperate, they need to pony up to get the ace. The Red Sox hold the cards. If they don’t like the hand, fold and play another hand elsewhere.
What cards? Lester can walk in the off-season and the Dodgers rotation is already stacked with Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, and Beckett
I think the Red Sox are really holding all the cards in the trade market period. They have the starting pitching, they have the bullpen arms and they have the bench players that teams in the playoff hunt are in need of. Pretty great position to be in with the plethora of young talent that is in need of playing time to see what you’ve got.
True but they arent pulling any triggers so its useless. Other teams already are cashing in on the trades.
The Red Sox traded Peavy literally yesterday.
“Triggers” Sheesh
Most shocking: Cafardo tempering the talk.
I would this interesting if this were to happen.
What are the Dodgers trying to become Red Sox West? =P
Lester and Miller for Pederson and Seager makes sense for both teams imo!
Nope just Boston. That’s hideous for LA
That is because you are a Red Sox fan. If Ned Colletti made that trade, he would be out of a job within the hour and Stan Kasten would void the trade.
I think there’s a good chance he goes to Seattle. I don’t think Lester is going anywhere. But consider the history between theses two teams with past transactions, who knows. The Dodgers owe him $118 million for the next five seasons, so my guess is that they there going to want Boston to eat up half of his remaining salary. However, that’s pretty impossible since its the Dodger’s wrong doing, they should pay the bill not the Red Sox. Seattle I think is a better choice because there are prospect there that they can choose from if they pay most of the contract of course. They will probably have to eat up most of the contract between $65-$67 million to obtain prospects like Edwin Diaz and Tyler Marlette. But who knows what the return will be on both ends of the teams.
Wrong doing? It happens all the time. Just like how the Dodgers took on Crawford and Beckett’s contract from the Red Sox. We’ll see what happens.
Am I the only one who sees Kemp as more of a liability than a reward? If we’re taking Kemp, there must be a better player involved, right? Kind of like how the Dodgers took on Beckett and Crawford for the privilege of taking AGon?
A Lester for Kemp trade would further reinforce my belief that Cherington is working for either the Orioles or Yankees from the inside. This could be another Benny Blunder.
ummm….Really???? not sure I would take Kemp for free, and Lester is the most sought after pitcher in the league at the trade deadline–