The MLB offseason is already starting to heat up with trades and after the massive move of Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler, one other superstar could get traded this winter in Matt Kemp, as rumors have circulated that the Boston Red Sox, Yankees, Mariners and Rangers have all asked about the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder.
Kemp dealt with injuries all last season as the Dodgers made a run to the playoffs through the National League West and with Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford playing well last season, the Dodgers could decide to trade him. The team went on an amazing run over the summer and Kemp could not remain healthy just two years after he probably should have won the MVP award over Ryan Braun. Kemp has a huge contract with six years and nearly $130 million and that, along with his injuries could make him hard to move, but a motivated team like the Red Sox could make it happen. Kemp has interest from the team since Jacoby Ellsbury is a free agent and while Kemp costs a ton as well, it might end up being less than what Ellsbury gets on the market since he is a Scott Boras client.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo has been reporting on possible trades all offseason and he writes that the Red Sox may look at Kemp as a solid option to protect David Ortiz in the lineup and playing in the American League could be good for him, as he could get rest at other positions or at DH at times. Kemp has not been healthy the past couple years, but when he is at his best, he is one of the most talented players in the league and that is what teams are looking at. Kemp missed time this season and played in 73 games and finished hitting .270 with 33 RBI and six home runs after going for .324 with 39 home runs and 126 RBIs in his 2011 season when he should have won MVP over Ryan Braun.
Kemp had surgery in the offseason and that was on his ankle and he also had a shoulder issue from earlier in the season and those are two factors that will come into play for any deal to go down. The 29-year-old is still very young in his career and if he is healthy next season he should have a bounce back year. The Yankees just signed Brian McCann, so they may not want to pony up all that money, but one proposed deal from ESPN hypothetically trades CC Sabathia for Kemp and it's a move that could help both sides, as the Yankees need a new everyday center fielder and the Dodgers have too many outfielders as it is. The main reason for that deal is the money factor and the fact that both teams could use the opposite player and while the Yankees giving up Sabathia seems unfathomable, stranger things have happened. Last year no one would have imagined Prince Fielder would be traded, but here we are.
The Tigers, Rangers and Angels have all pulled off big moves, with Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler swapping teams and the Angels acquired David Freese from the Cardinals and now some other players that could be moved includes David Price and Kemp. Brian Wilson is getting some interest from the Tigers and the Yankees are expecting to continue spending even after signing Brian McCann, as they are going after Jacoby Ellsbury and Robinson Cano.
