http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2013/11/sox_have_weighed_in_on_matt_kemp.htmlThe Red Sox are one of several teams who have made inquiries on Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp according to a major league source. The Red Sox have probably made a few dozen of these types of calls on trades and free-agents, but Kemp is certainly intriguing.
MakMan44 said:Can someone split out this Kemp thing? If it's something the Sox are actually thinking about exploring (and it sounds like they are) I think it's worth it's own thread.
Unless his decline phase has already started. This is a better route than Ellsbury but I still wouldn't be crazy about giving up on JBJ.foulkehampshire said:
If Kemp is truly available, I offer anybody not named Boegarts for him. Tremendous pull power, good fielder (though I would imagine he'd play LF), a player that can impact the game in multiple ways.
And he's only signed until 34, so theoretically the Sox would avoid paying him during his decline phase.
Tyrone Biggums said:Unless his decline phase has already started. This is a better route than Ellsbury but I still wouldn't be crazy about giving up on JBJ.
Tyrone Biggums said:Unless his decline phase has already started. This is a better route than Ellsbury but I still wouldn't be crazy about giving up on JBJ.
Devizier said:Kemp has been hurt so often that it's hard to get a read on where his defensive (or, to be honest, offensive) ability really is at this stage of his career. This is a case where the scouts should be given an extended hearing. However, for me, the fact that Kemp hasn't been reliably healthy since his breakout season, combined with the fact that the Dodgers (who presumably have the best scouting on him) are trying to trade him, is a good reason to stay very far away.
foulkehampshire said:
You mean the guy who averaged 149 games a year from 2008-2012? (159 a year from 2008-2011)
When Kemp was declared out for the playoffs, Dr. Neal ElAttrache said the injury was to a major weight-bearing bone, and a complete fracture could put Kemp's career in jeopardy.
[SIZE=13.63636302947998px]***[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.63636302947998px]The arthroscopic operation included the removal of several spurs and a loose body.[/SIZE][SIZE=13.63636302947998px]The arthroscopic operation included the removal of several spurs and a loose body.[/SIZE]
More importantly, it involved microfracture of the talus bone, a procedure of punching numerous holes in the bone to stimulate the formation of an overlying layer of fibrocartilage. The operation was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, N.C., and not by ElAttrache. Anderson is a team physician for the Carolina Panthers.
Kemp will be in a splint for two weeks and a non-weight bearing boot for another two weeks. It's unknown when he is expected to resume baseball activities.
Kemp hasn't been healthy since running into the center-field fence in Coors Field in August 2012. He underwent surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder last year. This season, he endured three trips to the disabled list for a strained right hamstring, left shoulder A/C joint irritation and the ankle injury.
Last week, Kemp underwent a cleanup procedure to address the arthritic A/C joint. The ankle surgery is his third operation in the last year.
nattysez said:
No, he means the guy who's played 189 games the past two years, just had microfracture surgery on this ankle, is not expected to be 100% in time for the start of the regular season, and has never been the same since he injured his shoulder two years ago.
Unless the Dodgers are kicking in $100mm, I want no part of 7/$140mm for this guy.
Guerrero would play SS, Ramirez to 3B. Speculation , of course.glennhoffmania said:I thought all of the talk about LA signing Cano ended when they signed Guerrero?
There is no chance (or very little) for Beltran to improve on those numbers. There is a good chance for Kemp to improve on his. One is in age decline. The other should be (just from an age perspective) at a steady keel for the duration of the deal. Whether or not it would be worth it would depend on the hours that Sox doctors would spend pouring over Kemp's medicals. That sentence is reason enough for great concern. It should not be an absolute deal breaker though.TOleary25 said:Kemp has a career .844 OPS and a 126 wRC+. Carlos Beltran had a .830 OPS and a 132 wRC+ last season. Beltran will likely be $90-100M cheaper with no long term commitment. If you're looking to upgrade left field, Beltran would be the much safer bet IMO. It would have to be a pretty significant chunk of money back from LA plus not much of a return for me to even consider it a good move.
Bosox4416 said:
If you scroll down the page on this link, look at the play on July 21st, where he injured his ankle. All the reports I've seen on him put him on track to have closer to normal offseason than he's had in two years, and another year further away from shoulder surgery.
http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/fantasy-lvp-matt-kemp/
TOleary25 said:Kemp has a career .844 OPS and a 126 wRC+. Carlos Beltran had a .830 OPS and a 132 wRC+ last season. Beltran will likely be $90-100M cheaper with no long term commitment. If you're looking to upgrade left field, Beltran would be the much safer bet IMO. It would have to be a pretty significant chunk of money back from LA plus not much of a return for me to even consider it a good move.
plucy said:Guerrero would play SS, Ramirez to 3B. Speculation , of course.
nattysez said:
No, he means the guy who's played 189 games the past two years, just had microfracture surgery on this ankle, is not expected to be 100% in time for the start of the regular season, and has never been the same since he injured his shoulder two years ago.
Unless the Dodgers are kicking in $100mm, I want no part of 7/$140mm for this guy.
foulkehampshire said:
You mean the guy who averaged 149 games a year from 2008-2012? (159 a year from 2008-2011)
Savin Hillbilly said:Where are people getting this idea that Matt Kemp is like this super young dude? We would have him for ages 29 through 34. That's not downright old, but it's certainly post-peak. It's basically Adrian Gonzalez all over again.
This is a guy who strikes out as much as Middlebrooks, walks less than Salty, and may not be a CF any more (and certainly isn't a good one). He has only had a wRC+ of 125 or better in a full season once, and he'll turn 30 next year. He used to have elite power, but it's not by any means clear he'll have it going forward. At 6/120, I pass so hard I get a speeding ticket.
Savin Hillbilly said:At 6/120, I pass so hard I get a speeding ticket.
Papelbon's Poutine said:Aren't the Dodgers looking for SP depth? Could Dempster be worked in here? Or Peavy?
koufax32 said:There is no chance (or very little) for Beltran to improve on those numbers. There is a good chance for Kemp to improve on his. One is in age decline. The other should be (just from an age perspective) at a steady keel for the duration of the deal. Whether or not it would be worth it would depend on the hours that Sox doctors would spend pouring over Kemp's medicals. That sentence is reason enough for great concern. It should not be an absolute deal breaker though.
I'm curious to know what LA would want in return. There's the rub.
Hoplite said:What do you think is a realistic asking price for him? We have some good prospects who are somewhat superfluous to us. Mookie Betts is blocked at second base and in centerfield. We could trade one of Barnes, Ranaudo, Webster, Workman, Britton, etc. since we don't have room for them in our MLB or AAA rotations. But LA is obviously going to want more than that and I wouldn't want to trade them Bogaerts, Bradley, Cecchini or Owens.
Kemp would be a better righthanded bat than Corey Hart or Mike Napoli. They all have varying degrees of health issues (it's more the strike out rates, walk rates and BABIP that concern me with Napoli).
Papelbon's Poutine said:Aren't the Dodgers looking for SP depth? Could Dempster be worked in here? Or Peavy?
MakMan44 said:If you isolate his 2012 (purely for this exercise), where he put up .303/.367/.538 slash line.
What would you be ok with the Sox trading for that?
Because I don't think it's that much of a stretch for Kemp to be able to reach numbers like that if he's actually healthy for an entire season. Maybe a little lower on the SLG but overall, a very solid line for a LF.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2010/06/can-matt-kemp-get-the-message-joe-torre-keeps-him-on-bench-in-dodgers-opener-against-giants.html#sthash
Kemp has such a seemingly casual attitude, he can be hard to read. Or if you try, it can be an unflattering read.
He doesn’t exactly emanate competitive fire. His energy seems focused on being cool, both in the clubhouse and too often on the field. He comes off so relaxed, his focus and intensity come into question.
http://dodgerfan.net/is-matt-kemp-an-issue-in-the-clubhouse-for-the-dodgers
Earl, I have it on good authority (NOT from Colletti, from others) that if anything, Ned UNDERSTATED the issues with Kemp. This kid is really full of himself, to the point that it is becoming an issue in the clubhouse. I’m not saying they WILL trade him. I still think there is less than a 50-percent chance that they will. I’m just saying that if they do trade one of their core young players, he probably will be the one, not only because of these issues but also because he would have the most value.
http://dailyupperdecker.com/2013/06/matt-kemp-is-actually-a-piece-of-shit/
The Dodgers center fielder hasn’t played since May 29th, and even when he was in the lineup, he was striking out almost as often as Rickie Weeks, yet bitching at his manager when he was pulled as part of a double switch, a move that would eventually lead to a 5-3 victory for the Dodgers.
BeantownIdaho said:If the Sox are looking at 6 @ 126 for years 29-35 then why not offer that to Ellsbury? Unless money is coming back and you shed some with Demptster or Peavy then I am not sure the team is better off than just locking up Ellsbury for that money and keeping their trade assets for other needs.
soxhop411 said:
Kevin Kennedy @KevinKennedyMLB23m
Red Sox have called in on Matt Kemps availabilty...to me you have to start by asking for Xander Bogaerts!
Hoplite said:
I think it's fair to expect Kemp to produce like he did in 2012 (assuming the Sox go over his medicals and his shoulder looks good). We saw what happened to Ellsbury coming off shoulder issues, he was basically useless for the 70 or so games he played the next year.
2012 Ellsbury - 74 games, 84 wRC+
2013 Kemp - 73 games, 102 wRC+
The Sox have historically had a decent shoulder strengthening program that helped Papelbon and Ellsbury get back to full strength.
Anyone thinks there's any substance to the behavioral issues/clubhouse issues that Kemp is rumored to have?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2010/06/can-matt-kemp-get-the-message-joe-torre-keeps-him-on-bench-in-dodgers-opener-against-giants.html#sthash
http://dodgerfan.net/is-matt-kemp-an-issue-in-the-clubhouse-for-the-dodgers
http://dailyupperdecker.com/2013/06/matt-kemp-is-actually-a-piece-of-shit/
In a world where Jason Vargas just signed a 4 year, $32M deal should we really consider Dempster a less favorable contract? He has real value based on his 1. long term health history and 2. exceptional success just last season in the NL. In the AL he's a 4th/5th starter type and being paid about what a 4th/5th starter type is not getting on the market, maybe just a touch more but that comes with the benefit of just a one year commitment. I'd say that for a NL club he looks like good value relative to what other deals have been struck for starters to date.DanoooME said:
Yeah, until Kemp proves he's healthy again, the Dodgers can't expect to get much AND would have to eat a lot of contract and/or take back less favorable contracts (i.e. Dempster).
soxhop411 said:
Kevin Kennedy @KevinKennedyMLB23m
Red Sox have called in on Matt Kemps availabilty...to me you have to start by asking for Xander Bogaerts!
lol…. Like that will ever happen
dbn said:
If they could have sweetened the deal by throwing in Nick Punto (replaces X as starting SS) then I'm listening, but he's anFA now.
Steve22 said:All-Star/MVP type outfielder and a likely buy-low opportunity. Sox would be irresponsible not to check in. Doesn't mean they're "in discussions" or any closer to acquiring Kemp than any of the other 200 players that are likely "available" this offseason. Honestly, until I see something more substantial I'm not even going to waste brain space trying to figure out if this is a smart move or not.