The Matt Kemp trade rumors have started up after he sat another game for the Dodgers and with the Boston Red Sox in the trade market for an outfielder, things could continue building steam, as names like Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford, Ichiro Suzuki, Emilio Bonifacio and Dexter Fowler will be mentioned as potential targets heading into the summer MLB trading deadline in 2014.
The Red Sox just snapped a 10 game losing streak and while they are far out of the AL East, the team isn't totally dead yet since no one has run away with the division and that could lead to a trade or two down the line. According to ESPN.com, the Red Sox were previously linked to Kemp last year and now could pick up on that line again with the way he has been used for the Dodgers. Kemp was sat down on the bench for his fourth straight game and after Ned Coletti said that the team would look at trading an outfielder in the offseason, the time could be coming to do it now.
The team has Kemp along with Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford in the outfield and now the former MVP runner up in Kemp looks to be the odd man out. According to Hardball Talk, the Red Sox are looking into the trade market in the outfield, as they have not been getting much production from the group of Grady Sizemore, Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes and Jackie Bradley Jr. The Red Sox are hoping to take some pressure off of Bradley and pulling off a trade for someone like Kemp or Ethier could help that greatly.
According to Hardball Talk, the Dodgers have continued to sit Kemp due to his offensive struggles and his so-so defense, which is starting to cause some trouble for the team. Kemp has not been able to regain that MVP form since being injured last season and he is hitting just .264 with five home runs and 13 RBIs this season. Kemp has been hobbled a bit after getting surgery on his ankle and that has made his defense in centerfield drop considerably, including his range and his speed at getting to the ball.
Whoever the team doesn't trade between Ethier or Kemp likely will take over as the regular centerfielder and now Kemp could also be in danger of getting moved. Puig has right field down and that could mean Kemp heads left, which is a spot he hasn't played at since back in 2006. The Red Sox are near the bottom of the AL in runs scored and they are in last place in the east division and need to get started in the other direction after winning the World Series last season.
WEEI reports that the team will be looking into the trade market to help solidify the outfield and they want to help Bradley, who is hitting .193 with 49 strikeouts in 46 games this season and that is a tough stat to look at for a young star. The Red Sox are trying to turn things around quickly, as they are fading fast and now have some history to catch up to if they want to get back into the playoff hunt.
