MLB Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers Should Consider Trading Matt Kemp

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By @DrewJenkins77

Matt Kemp Los Angeles Dodgers

Mark J. Rebilas- USA TODAY Sports

Matt Kemp has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate for the past couple of years thanks to a logjam in the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ outfield. Rightfully so, the Dodgers have yet to deal him through all these rumors. But now the time is right for the Dodgers to deal Kemp, and new President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman might be the change in mentality that finally spells the end of Kemp’s Dodgers tenure.

After a 2011 season in which Kemp came second in the NL MVP voting thanks to a .324/.399/.586 line, Kemp’s career has gown downhill. Though his numbers in 2012 were solid, Kemp played just 106 games, and he followed that up by playing just 73 games in 2013. He also struggled a the plate in 2013, hitting just .270/.328/.395. Kemp’s stock fell significantly and all of a sudden he went from being one of the best outfielders in the league to a player whose contract looked unbearable given his production.

Kemp started out this year by slashing just .245/.301/.410 in his first 53 games, and his future seemed even more bleak than ever before. But all of a sudden Kemp just started hitting, and from June 7 until the end of the season he managed a great .311/.372/.563 line. That raised his line on the year to a more than respectable .287/.346/.506, and his future suddenly looks a whole lot brighter.

This end of the season hot streak makes Kemp much more desirable in a trade, and the Dodgers should pounce on that opportunity. Given Kemp’s health struggles and iffy performance in 2013 and at the start 2014, he is still no sure thing. That risk might be acceptable for many players, but remember, Kemp is still owed $107 million through the 2019 season, and he just recently turned 30 years old. In keeping Kemp, the Dodgers take the risk that he regresses or suffers more health issues and then that money becomes a sunken cost. Now that Kemp is at least somewhat desirable in a trade again, they can alleviate that risk by dealing him.

Plus, it isn’t like the Dodgers do not have viable replacements for Kemp. Yasiel Puig is capable of playing center field in the big leagues, and he remains one of the game’s top young outfielders. The Dodgers also possess Joc Pederson, one of the top prospects in all of baseball. After he hit .303/.435/.582 at Triple-A in 2014, he is ready for a permanent big league role as a center fielder. Both are also significantly cheaper than Kemp. With Puig and Pederson in the outfield it is already a plus for the team, but they also have former All-Stars Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford around on top of Scott Van Slyke, who was a surprisingly nice breakout for the Dodgers in 2014.

The Dodgers have the talent to replace Kemp, and because of that there is little reason to hold onto him. Sure, the intrigue of one of the league’s better center fielders is still there, but Kemp’s recent track record is not worth the risk of his salary when the Dodgers have such capable replacements for him. Plus, Kemp is not getting younger, and that alone might be enough to attempt to deal him and his salary. Kemp’s solid 2014 season gives the Dodgers a chance to take away the risk that comes with his contract, and that is something that Friedman needs to take advantage of.

Drew Jenkins is an MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DrewJenkins77, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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