6:07pm: The deal has been announced. Kemp is headed to the club’s spring facility at Port St. Lucie.
4:16pm: The Mets have agreed to a minors pact with veteran outfielder Matt Kemp, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link). Terms of the deal aren’t known; it’s pending a physical. Kemp opened the season with the Reds but was released recently.
It’s rather surprising to see the 34-year-old land in New York, though a spate of injuries has challenged the organization’s depth situation. Veterans Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis had been camped at Triple-A to begin the year but were brought up to the majors to help fill in.
Kemp got off to a brutal start in Cincinnati, slashing just .200/.210/.283 with one home run (and just a single walk) in 62 plate appearances. He’s not much of a defender at this point of his career, so he needs to hit a fair bit to be a useful roster piece.
There’s certainly an argument to be made that Kemp would fit best on an American League team. For the Mets, though, this move is mostly about filling in the upper-minors outfield mix. It is still possible they’ll end up finding cause to bring Kemp up. Though he’s obviously no longer the star he was earlier in his career, Kemp did turn in a strong .290/.338/.481 slash in 506 plate appearances last year.
aaaaaaaaand Kemp got hurt signing the contract.
Actually he’s still hurt. Takes a while for a rib to heal.
Ya at least 20,000 years. Just ask Adam.
He can hurt his wrist while also having a broken rib
Why do only NL teams keep acquiring this dude?
he wasnt too bad in the box up until this year. would you really rather have Gomez over him at this point?
YEP!
But kemp was an all star last year
Because Dodger fans stuffed the ballot box.
No, Kemp was a legit all-star. His first OPS 874.
Nonsense, kenley.
Gomez runs better and is better defensively
He was lazy and got fat. He didn’t start to turn it up until last year first half with doyuers
Because the Padres and Dodgers are paying most of his salary. This is a dumpster dive, low risk to the Mets.
Sloppy seconds Saturdays came a whole day early for los mets
Mets reactivate Mookie Wilson
Right now Mackey Sasser would be sufficient in the OF.
Make sure the cutoff man isn’t a pitcher.
Hahaha! So weird story: when I was 4, Mackey handed me his bat during warmups. I still have it.
Bobby Bonilla..
Mets get another bum, whos next? Maybe Johan santana will make a comeback.
Woah. Watch your mouth about Santana
First Mets no hitter!
Technically, yes, the Mets did just sign Johan Santana.
They signed Ervin Santana not Johan
Between Kemp and Santana the Mets were really dumpster diving today.
Forget kemp was an all star on the team that represented the NL in the world series last year?
Is that why the Dodgers and Reds were so eager to keep him on the roster?
He hasn’t hit for almost a year now and is still a horrendous defender, accolades mean nothing
Yes, because the number of votes a person gets from fans is indicative of their skill. Absolutely.
He had an 874 OPS after the first half.
Yeah, the LA fans put Kemp on the All Star team instead of the other 24 stars on the team. Really?
Carlos Gonzalez has been DFA’d also, wouldn’t be surprised if he also get signed
They needed Kemp to replace Cespedes as the Team Loon…..
I’m shocked the Mets got him before the Giants.
I was really hoping he would end up on an AL team and have a somewhat decent end to his career. He was great the first half for the Dodgers last year. Good luck Matt you are a good guy.
I agree, when healthy and in decent shape he holds value but history says it will end badly, unfortunately.
Time for Altherr to get DFA’d again.
back to SF?
Kemp is already less injured than the entire yankees team. But they’re in first. Of course they’re playing minor league teams. But that’s ok. Season’s over in May. Like every year.
are you ok
Mets are a mess.
More Omar Minaya
I can assure you Kemp isn’t playing in the minors unless it’s on a rehab assignment, He’ll probably be on the team soon to see what he can do, he has tons of money regardless and isn’t going to waste his time in the minor leagues.
Let’s print those playoff tickets now!
At least Addison Reed has hope to find another job.
As a Dodgers Fan wish all you Mets Fans good luck with Matt Kemp! He needs to hang up his cleats and call it a career!
I guess Andre Ethier wasn’t available….
kinda wondering if he’s a bad clubhouse component. no one seems to be keeping him around too long.
Here we go. One of the most popular Dodgers on and off the field. Let’s start that tired rumor.