When the Dodgers recently pulled off a big-contract swap with the Braves that improved the team’s luxury tax accounting, they ended up with former star outfielder Matt Kemp. It remains difficult to see Kemp ending up on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, but the team is also finding little interest in the veteran from other organizations, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag.
Indeed, per Heyman, “the trade market for Kemp is believed to be virtually nonexistent at the moment.” That’s hardly surprising, of course. Atlanta no doubt would have moved Kemp previously if there had been an opportunity. He’s worth nothing close to what’s left on his contract, which has been traded three times already.
Still, we heard recently about the possibility of the Dodgers including prospects as an inducement to another organization to take over a portion of the Kemp deal. Just how much cash might move off the L.A. books would surely depend upon the quality of the prospect(s) up for the bidding, with any such deal potentially representing an interesting look at the market valuation of some young talent.
Whether that sort of scenario might yet be in play is not yet clear, but it seems the Dodgers won’t be able to get much of a credit for the rights to Kemp himself. But that’s not to say that there’s no potential value left in the veteran slugger, who only just turned 33 years of year.
Kemp, after all, is still a significant power threat who has managed slightly above-average offensive production over the past three seasons. While health, defense, and on-base questions persist, he could well be worthy of a MLB roster spot — particularly for an American League team that is in need of a slugger that can mash against opposing lefties (against whom Kemp carries a lifetime .921 OPS).
In any event, the Dodgers likely aren’t in much of a rush at present. Even with Kemp on the 40-man, the club has three open roster spots to work with. Unless and until pressure is created in that realm, the Los Angeles front office can explore any number creative ways to shed some of the obligations to Kemp while maximizing the organization’s resources in addressing other needs.
duh. he’s way over priced.
not sure why you would be down voted but he is over paid for sure! by like $20m.
Kemp is overpriced, but even if the Dodgers have to kick-in half or more of his contract, they save that much more money than if he’s released. I.e., if the Dodgers kicked-in $30M of his $45M contract, they save $15M over releasing him.
White Sox should be all over a type of deal where they take on the entire contract and two prospects inside their top 10. This makes a whole lot more sense than trading for Machado.
Dodgers wouldn’t trade TWO top-10 prospects to a team just to get them to eat salary. The White Sox would be lucky to get one top-10 prospect in that type of deal
I meant to eat the entire salary. How about one inside the top-10 and then one in the 11-20 range? Dodgers clear salary and don’t have worry about the luxury tax when re-signing Kershaw and signing Harper.
They won’t have to worry about luxury tax regardless. The bump to AAV for Kershaw truly isn’t going to be all so significant. The Dodgers really can churn and dump some salary other ways. I don’t think they are under the illusion they are going to clear the 20M AAV. I think they’ll be happy with clearing 5-7M per year. Beyond that it it’s really not worth trading significant prospects just to unload Kemp’s salary.
Are you out of touch with how much money $43 million is? They’re not throwing $43 mil in the trash for a random top 10 Dodger prospect. That’s absurd. The Sox should save that $43 mil and use it towards a free agent a year from now.
How bad is Kemp that fans are arguing whether it would take one or two TOP 10 prospects to get a team to take his contract on?
It’s not that Kemp is that bad, he just seems bad because of the immense salary. He has had 13 seasons in a row over 100 OPS+. He’s not MVP-like anymore, but he is not an embarrassment to put on the field either.
He had a negative oWAR and dWAR last season. Unless he is DHing, there is no place for him on any competitive team.
Yes, he really is that bad.
He holds no defensive value . His only role would be a dh
team take Kemp, LA pays all 2019 salary 22.5 million and 5 million 2018.. AV for 2 years of Kemp 7..5 million per year..
I’d be cool with them taking on the entire contract and getting Lux back.
Alexgordon that sounds like a terrible idea, thanks for sharing.
He’ll be moved and someone will get a bargain.
Question is why should they be surprised? Any team that wants him will just wait until he is released soon. Everyone knows the dodgers don’t want him.
Not a big surprise. Unless they eat at least half of his remaining salary, or trade bad contract for bad contract, it’s going to be very hard to move him.
Hanley Ramirez For Kemp straight up
Where would Hanley play on the dodgers? No DH spot. & why would Sox eat up 2 years of Kemp? Zero sense
Yea why would anyone do this trade lol
Actually, it makes a lot of sense. Hanley platoons at 1B with Bellinger, who is in the outfield on Hanley days. Hanley option doesn’t vest because he won’t get the ABs, so LAD is done after 2018. On the BOS side, Hanley’s $22MM becomes $15.75MM for Kemp (X2 years) because LAD and SDP already agreed to cover $6MM in prior Kemp trades. BOS gets a decent power threat at DH and purges Hanley while also saving some cash this year. Sign JD, who DHs against righties, plays LF against lefties.
Another possibility is BOS does this trade, then flips Kemp to another AL team (Rangers? Rays?) for prospects and pays half of Kemp. Still a cash savings over being stuck with Hanley next year.
I would prefer a Rusney Castillo for Kemp deal. Dodgers can DFA Castillo and not have him count towards the luxury tax until 2019 (when the CBA forces teams to include those players in the luxury tax calculations).
The addition of Kemp will mean fewer ABs for Hanley and no 2019 vesting option.
Then the $$ for Kemp (2019), Castillo (now), Pablo (2019) and Hanley (2018) would all be off the Sox books by the end of the 2019 season,
The Sox could legitimately pursue a top flight FA next year, and then be under the luxury tax by 2020.
It would make sense for the Dodgers to eat the salary of yet another Cuban bust.
I agree with kemp for castillo
Hanley’s also an outfielder. Remember?
Should they also remember that he used to be a shortstop too? It doesn’t really matter because he can’t do any of it well,
Hanley also was horrible in the outfield. Remember? If you don’t, -19 DRS in just 92 games isn’t that great. If anything, it’s closer to downright awful.
let me clarify that it is the definition of downright awful
yeah, and Mitch Moreland is a pitcher
Sarcasm
Maybe the front office will have to wait for an injury to occur in spring training before they can move him. His roster spot doesn’t seem to be an issue.
I wonder how much Kemp’s agent is assisting the Dodgers’ front office in selling his services, if at all.
I mean…duh…>.>
I like that the Dodgers, one of the wealthiest teams in American sports history, are looking to trade prospects just to save money. I find it even more amusing that their fans are down with it. Must be a la la thing.
It’s a luxury tax thing…. you that dumb? Yankees are doing it too. Your giants are doing it too lol why do you think they traded Matt Moore for nothing. Get a clue.
It’s not even good trolling. You do need to really work on that. Next time come with something intelligent to say.
You could’ve been less of an ass in explaining it, but yeah obviously that’s the case.
Figures coming from a crying giant fan. A team that is spiraling downhill and sees no way back up to the top. Have a great season again maybe you’ll get the 60 wins this year
They will probably win 81 in 2018.
dought the giants win 80 games 0n 2018 they are worse team than any team in NL west. They will win less than San diego next year. Giants will win less in 2019 also.
The Giants have paid off the ballpark this off season, freeing up untold millions of dollars. The Giants are going to be spenders and in the hunt.
Cost of stadium not in lux tax. Different pot of money , they may have money but the still want ro be under 197 million
I doubt the Giants will now turn on the cash spigot. They have always been cheap, looking to get a year or two from has-beens on their way down, e.g. Hunter Pence, Aaron Rowland, Eva(n) Longoria…
Explain how having one of the highest payrolls make them cheap?
Giants have no farm system and no future on their MLB squad either. Hard to talk when your best prospect is christan arroyo
What’s wrong with Christian Arroyo?
His bat.
If the Sox strike out with JD, wonder if they’d kick the tires on kemp if LA is willing to eat some money. Could be a potential DH replacement if Hanley were to be moved/released which is being reported. Not the same player he once was but Kemp had a decent year at the plate last year when healthy
Dont even need to involve money.
Red Sox get kemp and a prospect like dustin may or trevor oaks
Dodgers get Hanley Ramirez.
Red Sox improve the DH and pick up a decent prospect for having to pay kemp in 2019
Dodgers get out from under the kemp contract for 1 year of hanley
Except the Dodgers don’t need or want Hanley
Point of the trade isnt to acquire Hanley. Point of the trade is to swap 1 year of hanley who is a fa at seasons end for 2 years of kemp and a prospect.
The point of the trade is to save the dodgers 22 mill come the 2019 off seaaon.
Nobody is taking kemps contract. Best the dodgers can hope for is they eat at most half and give up a decent prospect.
Dodgers have been there, done that with Hanley. No point in taking him back on after having gotten clear of Han-Ram just as he was beginning to decline.
please not Hanley again. been there done that
Lol they want to trade him away after getting him.
They traded for him in order to get under the $197 million tax threshold, not because they thought he would help their team. It gives them a great shot to spend big during next off-season for Harper/Kershaw/Machado+
Just buy him out. They won’t get much for him. They didn’t give up anything of significance either though.
You can’t buy players out in Baseball.
There’s no such thing as a “buyout” in baseball.
Bobby Bonilla begs to differ.
Bonilla is still under contract. Deferred compensation.
that “deferred compensation” is another way of saying buyout.
Yes you can. That’s what happened to Prince fielder and A-Rod.
Yes there is. Litetslly.every contract has one..it happens all the time.
All the time? Why are the Red Sox’s still paying Pablo Sandoval’s salary? They could have just bought him out.
Red Sox to DH. Swap Hanley Ramirez for Kemp and a prospect
Dodgers get out from 2 years of kemp for 1 for hanley, red sox get a better dh, and pick up someone like dustin may or trevor oaks.
trading a bad attitude for a worse attitude and malingerer. No thanks
Dodgers already have one head case that needs daily therapy – Puig.
I’m pretty sure the doyuers are over handley
Just because you said it twice (thrice) doesn’t mean it makes any more sense.
Yeah doesnt make sense…..
makes zero sense for the dodgers to save 22 mill for 2019 to resign kershaw and have some wiggle room financially
makes zero sense for the red sox to upgrade their DH for 2 years and pick up a decent prospect instead of paying JD Martinez, Bruce, or whoever else is out there 3 or more years roughly the same amount of money.
yeab makes zero sense i can see your point (sarcasm)
But is Kemp really that much better a DH than Ramirez at this point, if he’s even better at all?
according to fangraphs 7% better.
doubt the red sox really want to pay martinez 100 mill or more to play dh. doubt they want to give jay bruce 3 or 4 year deal to play dh for roughly the same amount kemp makes.
they could take fliers on alonso, morrison, matt adams to dh
it would still cost LA 43 million and a prospet, just DFA and get minium back 575,000 would be better for LA. 2019 is not money problem its 2018.
Shocking
-Nobody
Do you know surprised I was that the braves took that contract from the padres?
Now, they doyuers took that contract from the braves. Ain’t no one want him.
Remember kemp said once he was trade to Atlanta. It’s nice to finally play in a real baseball town.
It wasn’t really surprising they were able to unload the Olivera contract.
The Padres should take Kemp back… that way the Dodgers will have to pay them *again* for his services.
I know there is an English speaker in there somewhere.
In other non-news, Matt Albers might be signing with a mystery team as early as this week.
The suspense is killing me!
Wow! You know I almost forgot. That article was written by a fortune teller who saw Albers signing but couldn’t make out the logo, right?
Kemp still posted offensive numbers above the league average last season. I would eat some of the contract if I could get a prospect back.
Last season and the other 12 before it. Kemp is not a bad player, no matter what WAR says. He is just overpaid, which used to not affect fans at all. Now everyone acts like they are the accountant putting together the team instead of a fan watching the team.
He’s certainly not a bad player overall, you’re right – he’s overpaid and bad at particular aspects of the game, which WAR has reflected quite well.
You seem bitter about fans having an understanding of the financial implications – what’s up with that? Money matters, fans are learning.
Do NOT help them out.
Kemp’s release was practically preannounced. No reason any team should trade for him unless Dodgers give up a good prospect with him–which would make no sense for the Ddogers now that they’re under the threshold. Pretty obvious from get go that he’ll be released and sign with an AL team for league minimum with the Dodgers paying the rest.
Orioles should pick him up at that point then. Adam Jones is a good friend of his…and Kemp would Rake in Baltimore’s stadium, Yankee Stadium, and Fenway.
Trumbo gets traded in hoping.
I’d say send a couple of prospects to take on Kemp and a couple to get Machado. They get full contract and good prospects.
I’d say Alvarez, White, Diaz, Stewart and May get this done. Orioles have money to spend under the cap. If they trade Trumbo and Jones, Kemp can take over DH duties.. Orioles get 4 young CC arms for their rebuild and a decent return for Machado. Dodgers save 4 million on Machado and resign Darvish with backloaded contract.
.
Thoughts?
What are they going to do with Justin Turner? Machado would probably leave because he can get more money elsewhere. Sounds you created a big hole.
The Orioles have pulled Machado off the market, which probably means that they haven’t been impressed with the offers they’ve received so far. Just to begin the conversation, the O’s want two good starting pitchers who they can control for the next 5 years. Given that Machado can be a free agent next year, his asking price is pretty high. If those two pitchers can help the O’s over the next 5 years, they can help the team they’re with too. Machado stands to make about $17M in 2018 in his last year of arbitration. The Dodgers need to stay under the luxury tax limit. A team like the O’s have no need for Kemp. No team has a need for Kemp unless maybe the Dodgers would pay like 75% of his salary. The Dodgers believe that they build a strong team using homegrown players, and they will continue with that approach. Trading away too many of them for one year of a player who plays 3B and maybe SS, is probably not appealing to them.
Jays should go after him. Bad contract trade give them Morales who is signed for 2 years as well, but at 11 million. Jays take on rest of Kemps salary and get a half way decent prospect back. Opens the dh spot for the jays to rotate Kemp, tulo and Travis
The Dodgers can take their sweet time to move Kemp. They have at least two open roster spots and it isn’t like they are chasing any big money free agents. Someone will be looking for some righthanded power before opening day and the Dodgers can eat some contract and be rid of Kemp then. All that matters is that they stay below $197 million. That should be easy.
True, but the team looking for that right-handed power might just be the Dodgers.
That is true. Dodgers have him, don’t have a desperate need to deal him, and Kemp still has that one trick that is pretty decent.
Exactly! How much trouble can he get into in Left Field. Never mind. I think I just answered my own question.
His legs haven’t been the same since the ankle accident so he will never be a GG candidate again, but it seems he’s returned to being a roughly league-average fielder over the past couple of seasons. He can still be useful in a PH and platoon role in LF. The Dodgers passed on Stanton and aren’t going to sign Martinez so what’s the better solution?
Kemp is not a league average fielder, he is among the worst fielders.
Actually, no.
baseball-reference.com/players/k/kempma01.shtml
dWAR -2.2.
Yes, WAR is the Stat that Rules Them All.
Ohh . . . The ankle injury. I remember watching that game and being so mad he hurt himself by not running hard?! Then come to find out it cost him the season. And now you’re right, it seems to have cost him his defensive career at least.
Message to all young ball players: Run hard ALWAYS
you’re right, he totally deserved a gold glove prior to his injury, he was shafted out of one, and he is currently an average defender. WAR says nothing. and you’re probably not a dodger fan, just a knowledgeable baseball fan.
Kemp is probably the worst defensive OFer in all of baseball. You can use stats, eye test, or whatever else you want — it’s all the same.
He is the definition of a below average defensive OF. His DRS and UZR are shockingly bad. You saw it pretty evidently when he was in SD. Injuries affected his career there’s no denying that. In CF he was an elite speed guy who had the speed to cover up for his bad routes and jumps. He no longer is an elite speed guy. He is simply just a bad defender now. He will not see the Dodgers roster. He will not see it because he has no positional versatility and because of his clubhouse presence. The Dodgers didn’t want him, the Padres couldn’t wait to rid him so much so they were willing to take on Olivera, and the Braves well AA’s comments seem pretty evident. Fans once thought Kent was just a salty bitter vet, but he seemingly continues to be right. Kemp is not the “right fit” guy. He’s not seeing a dodger uniform again.
Kemp makes routine fly balls look like a spectacular running grab… or they become triples.
giants whole outfield in 2017 was worse than Kemp was.. Kemp is not really great but he would be ok as left fielder plus 20 Home runs and 100 rbi’s.
There are several ways of measuring WAR, but they all end up ranking players in about the same order. Its value is that it takes away the passion, and the overvaluing players because of some spectacular plays they have made. For instance, Kemp may end up up on the highlight reels for making some impressive diving catches, but outfielders with more speed and better jumps will make the same play look routine. WAR measures all that. Kemp has been one of the 3 worst outfielders since he left the Dodgers. He gives up more runs on defense than he creates on offense. If we don’t use WAR, how else do we measure his ability on defense?
Dodgers will eat most not some. They will be lucky to save $5 million off the next 2 years.
Trade him to Philadelphia for cheesesteaks.
White Sox, if he comes with prospects
Cards will take kemp and all of his contract, plus throw in a couple good prospects. Dodgers throw in say, bellinger or Seager. LOL
Don’t quit your day job.
Kemp (and his entire salary) and Bellinger for a warm body or maybe even a decent prospect. Would this be fair? Not that I think something like this will happen but an argument can be made.
That’s what I said
Seriously!? What argument could possibly be made for such a scenario?
43 million dollar argument?
Obviously that’s not happening, and I was joking, hence the LOL at end of my comment. Point is that in all honesty if I was running a team that’s what it would take to get me to take on kemp and his contract. As a fan of small market Cardinals I relish when teams with a seemingly unlimited payroll Like Dodgers, Yankees, etc are forced into things like this because of stupid contracts. Just saying….
While I agree that the dodgers wouldn’t trade such talent just for the sake of saving money, there has to be a good talent point where a team would agree to take on that salary in exchange for talent. Maybe Verdugo plus more?
Zero. May as well say that the Braves are going to deal Acuna to get out from under the Kazmir and McCarthy contracts.
Kazmir and McCarthy are way better players than Kemp, with more upside and way cheaper. 43 MM is no chump change, it would take more than Verdugo for a team to consider eating that.
The days of unlimited spending are over. Although there is no strict salary cap in MLB, the new penalties for over-spending have all the teams focused on limiting their spending.
Geezzz why not see what happens in spring training, Kemp could very well surprise everyone. Then he’d be worth something
Kemp and Edwin Rios to Indians for Kipnis.
I’d actually take that deal if I was CLE.
Kemp for Ellsbury? Idk just throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks
As a Yankee fan I’d love to DFA one less year of garbage and less salary down the toilet. sign me up for this. Neither should have a roster spot.
why do people crap so much on Ellsbury? at 1.7 WAR in limited action, he was a useful player to say the least, Kemp was a below average contributor, by far one of the worst defenders in the league, I wouldn’t trade Ellsbury for Kemp straight up, even if Ellsbury has more years and money owed to him, he is not dead money like Kemp.
I would do that in 10 seconds and then release kemp. The less we pay albatrossbury the better
Nope, neither the Dodgers nor the team acquiring Kemp in any theoretical trade is likely to commit to paying whoever they acquire over more than two years.
Why not just trade him to the Red Sox for Ramirez one for one? Kemp’s (imo) bat will play up quite a bit with a full time move to DH. His bat has to hold more power potential than Ramirez and both are over priced. The Dodgers could include a prospect/cash to equal out the contracts.
Dodgers would do that in a heartbeat depending on the level of prospect going the other way. Certainly no one in the top 10
How about the Braves take him back on for a prospect and some cash…
Imagine if a team is dumb enough to take on Kemp’s 2019 salary lol. The dodgers would be beyond thrilled
dodger pay 2019 if team will pay 2018 salary.
What exactly is “minimal” interest? Do they mean no interest?
There is just too much money attached to him. Even if you attach prospects you would have to attach really good ones, but on the flip side it might be worth it to the dodgers to eat his contract and keep the prospects. Honestly, a lot of their prospects are panning out. I wouldn’t be so eager to trade them when you can control them cheap for years
Since we’re all just brainstorming here, how about Kemp and a lottery ticket to the Marlins with enough additional cash to complete an even-money trade for Prado and Tazawa?
It looks like he is making 21.75 mil for both 2018 and 19 but LA has to pay 3.5 mil and SD 3.5 mil so I am guessing that a team would be on the hook for 14.75 mil per year yes? Maybe the Cubs should send Heyward for him? Thoughts Probably dreaming
Now that he is back with LA, you don’t count the extra LA has to pay because they are paying it all. The only part subtracted is the 3.5 that the Padres are covering.
Yeah just what the dodgers need. Someone with an even worse contract then kemp
Minimal interest is Heyman’s way of saying he has no idea how much interest there is. He can’t say no interest in case they trade him. So minimal interest is safe and he has a story someone will click on.
Hard to imagine no team is interested in an OF with arthritis in both hips who is owed $40M over the next 2 years, is an old 33, and may or may not show up to spring training in shape. Dodgers’ best hope is to hire a warlock to cast a spell on some unsuspecting FO compelling them to take on Kemp’s entire contract for a top 10 prospect.
I kind of surprised the Dodgers are getting minimal interest. I thought it would be less than that.
The problem with any Hanley trade is that he has a vesting option that kicks in with something like 1100 PA’s over the 2017-2018 seasons. He had 500 or so last year (I’m too lazy to do the research, but I heard this over the radio here in Boston last week), so he’d be darn close to getting it with real playing time. Going to the NL might help keep those PA’s down, sans the ability to DH. So it could still work, aside from the teams being interested in any such swap.
As for a Kemp for Ellsbury deal, I’d do it too as a Yankees fan. I highly doubt the Dodgers would. I hated that Ellsbury deal when it happened. I get wanting the player, but the money and years, plus a NTC, were absolutely mind boggling. That has to be a Stienbrenner special. Is Cashman that dumb? I don’t think so. Maybe he was tho. Terrible contract regardless of who wanted it.
Ramirez does have a vesting option for 2019 if he reaches 1050 PA by the end of 2018. He had 553 in 2017, so he’ll need just 497 this year for $22M option to vest for ‘19. He’ll make it if he plays every day and is marginally healthy. Alex Cora and Dave Dombrowski will, at some point next year, have to at least discuss how they’d like that to shake out. Would Cora platoon or bench him like Bob Melvin did with Coco Crisp a couple years ago? Tough decision. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
No Gm is stupid enough. If your team’s Gm trades for him then I feel for you.
In other news:
Water Wet
The Sky is Blue
Don’t Eat Yellow Snow
I think this would be an interesting move for the Tigers.
1) If they can get a solid prospect from the Dodgers, helpful in the rebuild.
2) They have openings on the OF Corners with JDMart, Upton gone and should have payroll flexibility with JDMart, Verlander, Upton, Anibal Sanchez, Kinsler all off the books
3) If he is bad, they get higher draft pick
4) Victor Martinez is a free agent after this season, can flip him at the deadline and DH Kemp rest of the way.
5) Kemp’s contract will be close to up by the time Tigers are ready to compete
Kemp needs to go to an AL team where he can just hit. When healthy, the guy can still rake. Last season, he came into the season in shape, and thru June 14, he was hitting .327/.364/.558/.922, which is about on par w/ his peak seasons w/ the Dodgers. Then he injured his season, & the rest of his season went in the tank.
That being said, an AL team should take a look at him as a DH. The Dodgers will be picking up most of his contract anyway, so there’s really minimal risk there. A team like the Rangers, who don’t have an established player currently slotted at the DH spot, might be a decent fit.
Rangers will gladly take him as long as LAD accepts Shin Soo Choo AND his contract in return. One creative possibility would be if AZ takes him in exchange for Greinke and 100% of his remaining contract. Dodgers might be willing to do that only if they trim more salary elsewhere.
Choo is signed through 2020 at similar rates, so that’s not happening.
There’s likely only 5 teams that would be interested in Matt Kemp at any price (TBR, KCR, CHI, OAK and SFG). I don’t see those teams trading bad contracts such as 3 years of Ian Kennedy, 1 year of James Shields, 1 year of Hunter Pence or other… for 2 years of Kemp. They are waiting for him to get released when his cost is League Minimum.
I temper this with the fact that I have only been right on two predictions this off season (Ohtani and Kinsler to LAA).
This article should be headlined ‘the sky is blue, water is wet, don’t put your hand on a hot stove and Dodgers Receiving Minimal Trade Interest In Matt Kemp. Well no ISH!
Dodgers trade Matt Kemp for Icy Hot and a bucket of baseballs.
Mariners get Matt Kemp and Kenta Maeda for Marc Rzepczynski
Dodgers would certainly do that.
Dodgers dumped Kempis contract mariners pickup a good cheap controllable pitcher. Win win
LOL.
Trade Proposal: Kemp, P Wilmer Font and minor league IF Errol Robinson to the White Sox for P Carson Fulmer and OF Ryan Cordell.
(another Vanderbilt pitcher). Dodgers agree to pay $15 m of Kemp’s contract.
Fulmer is the former Vandy pitcher…LAD loves the Vandy pitchers
Not sure why the White Sox would do that. Fulmer has certainly had his share of control issues, but taking on $28 million of Kemp’s contract and dealing a former top-10 overall pick doesn’t seem likely.
Kemp and his contract plus mid level prospect to the Twins for Phil Hughes. Dodgers save 17 million in the deal. Twins get prospect to help offset that and a RH option at a pretty open DH spot. Have payroll flexibility as well unless they actually sign a big name SP. minimal chance of happening but fun to speculate.
Re-reading I think the dodgers would have to eat a small portion of the Kemp contract to swing this.
The Twins are set in the OF and will likely use Miguel Sano as a full time DH.
Yeah anything to take DH at bats away from grossman.
Right? I’m not saying Kemp is the answer long term but as a Twins fan I wouldn’t mind seeing him DH for 2 years if we can get the salary down and dump a contract. Sano is playing 3rd. Right now DH is Grossman and Kennys Vargas. Don’t have to play Kemp in the OF unless injuries.
If the prospect incentive was right i wouldn’t mind the Jays having a look. He would essentially provide what Jose did last year and maybe our coaching staff could get some patience out of him? Donaldson, EE, Jose, Smoak all became more patient hitters in Toronto and maintain power. It’s not as though we’re oozing with talent in the outfield as it stands anyways
Once LA releases him, he becomes an easy gamble to take for a rebuilding AL team who could use a veteran presence, part-time DH and pinch hitter (he can’t really play acceptable OF). He’s only 33, can be signed for league minimum, and if he can come back and show his bat still carries value, he could be flipped for prospect(s) mid-season.
I think it’s time for Kemp to do the honorable thing and go out Canseco-style: roid up and charge people to watch you hit batting practice at a local high school.
I think Kemp could have a productive season for the Dodgers. Also, putting him in the outfield as a starter would make it so Chris Taylor could play second base, a gaping hole in the Dodger’s lineup.
You’re basically then saying that Kemp’s offense and defensive contributions would exceed those of Logan Forsythe who even in a poor season still had a .351 OBP while bringing excellent defense. Forsythe was also excellent in the playoffs, so a bounce-back year for him seems far more likely than one from Kemp.
So Kemp is a defensive disaster, a clubhouse malcontent, a league average bat in SD and Atl, doesn’t get on base anymore, his power is no longer elite, maybe just maybe he is in clear decline. He might have a “dead cat bounce” year, but it’s unlikely. If you are unsure of the reference it’s credited to BA. That said it really doesn’t feee anything up. Kemp might find more offensive success as mainly a DH, without the daily wear and tear, but I’m not buying he a first division regular in the field.
2B is not a hole if Forsythe is his normal self. I would have Joc, Kiki and Verdugo out there before Kemp is even considered
And that’s the thing. After his swing change/approach change he proved to be an even split guy. Last year you can probably chalk up to injury. He was drilled in the foot. It was essentially pain tolerance for him. He came back and like a true dodger experienced hamstring issues. Forsythe looked in between timing wise until the last month. I definitely wouldn’t give up on him. He was never expected to be a star. He was a guy that plays above average D at 2nd/3rd drills lefties, gets on base, has some pop, abs is a great clubhouse guy. He’s a professional hitter that keeps a lineup turning over.
Why wouldn’t a team like Oakland take home and some prospects?