Here’s the latest from Cleveland…
- The Indians had “mild” interest in Matt Kemp before the Reds released the veteran outfielder earlier in May, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal writes (subscription required). In fact, Rosenthal notes that Cleveland was the only team who expressed any interest at all in Kemp’s services. Given the Tribe’s needs in both the outfield and in the run-scoring department whatsoever, it isn’t surprising that the club is checking in on any potential solutions. Kemp didn’t hit much in his brief time with Cincinnati, however, and was on the injured list recovering from a broken rib at the time of his release. It stands to reason that the Indians (or other teams) could explore signing Kemp once he’s healthy, since the 34-year-old is just a season removed from a 122 wRC+ and an All-Star appearance for the Dodgers in 2018.
- Also from Rosenthal’s piece, he reports “the Indians made a run at left-hander Gio Gonzalez” during Gonzalez’s brief sojourn in free agency in April. After Gonzalez opted out of his minor league deal with the Yankees, the Mets and Brewers were the only known suitors for the southpaw before he agreed to a contract with Milwaukee. Since Gonzalez hit the market less than two weeks after Mike Clevinger was placed on the IL, it makes sense that the Tribe would be checking around for potential rotation help — not to mention how that pitching need became even more pronounced in the wake of Corey Kluber’s forearm fracture. Gonzalez has pitched well over three starts for the Brewers, and he could end up being a real “what-if” for not only Cleveland, but every other team that gave Gonzalez so little attention on the open market both in April and over the offseason.
- In the latest update on Clevinger, he threw off a mound for the first time since hitting the IL with a teres major muscle strain on April 9, tossing a 20-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. “It was just 20 fastballs, but everything feels healthy,” Clevinger told reporters, including Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The righty will play catch on Wednesday and then toss another bullpen on Thursday, before he and the team decide on the next steps in his rehab process. Clevinger is slightly ahead of his original six-to-eight week projection to begin throwing, though due to his 60-day IL placement, it will still be some time before he can return to the Tribe’s rotation. Clevinger was off to a fantastic start before his injury, tossing 12 shutout innings over his first two outings of the season.
From All-star to being released, the Matt Kemp story.
And hosed on an MVP to Ryan Braun’s steroid year
I’ll never forgive Braun for what he did, but at least he can still hit
Irony, somebody named after a guy that boosted his career with PEDs talking about a guy that boosted his career with PEDs…
The body breaks down. He’s not the only one to see a drastic decrease in abilities after breaking a foot.
He made a lot of money. Achieved quite a bit of fame. Had some amazing years. That also is the Matt Kemp story.
Amen
For the record, Kemp never broke a foot. His second major injury was a fracture on his ankle. The first was a shoulder injury.
He had a lisfranc injury. That’s the tendon at the foot and he tore it completely. It’s worse than a broken foot, actually, as it forever decreases your foot speed which in turn messes up your body’s timing.
Good talk!
Not sure where you got that. It was an ankle injury that led to surgery and turned one of the fastest guys in the game into one of the slowest.
truebluela.com/2013/10/21/4863966/matt-kemp-ankle-…
Not saying it wasn’t worse than a broken foot, only that it wasn’t a broken foot.
That would be more shocking is all-star appearances meant that much anymore
I bet if you and Matt Kemp combined bank accounts you 2 would be sitting pretty.
I’d rather pay a little bit more and get Evan Gattis than have Kemp for the prorated league minimum. Either way though, they need a lot more thump and depth in that lineup.
I could go for that. Bring in Gattis and dump the ex-Met.
What would the bullpen do without him though?
In my opinion, Denard Span could be a better option.
I don’t mind Span but they need power in the worst way right now
Agreed Span would be a good choice. Matt Holliday would get my vote as well. I haven’t heard if he is retiring or not but if he is healthy I believe he has a little left in the tank.
There’s grasping at straws, than there’s really, really, really grasping at straws.
If you think Gattis is an option, go for it. A no defense, streaky DH. No thanks. He belongs in Korea or Japan.
I’m not talking about him as a season-saver. But if the alternative is Matt Kemp, then sign me up for some Gattis.
Well I like the idea of them picking up Kemp or maybe even make a trade to the Brewers for Thames, Saladino, and Chase Anderson for a couple of decent prospects
I saw Kemp play CF for the Dodgers several times in Phoenix with the Dodgers. The man was a BEAST. He hit one to straight away center that I think is still going. You had to marvel at the talent. Then I saw the SLUG Cryin Ryan Braun. Had to play him in left cause he had no game except hitting. Then he was so SMUG when he ruined the pu guy for the steroid testings life. What a POS. No class and just a hitter. I would pay to see Kemp and I wouldn’t urinate on Braun if he was on fire. A Dbacks fan.