Matt Kemp wants a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers want to trade Kemp. However, so far the team has yet to find a deal where a team is willing to take on his large contract and inconsistent stats. The Dodgers have been in pursuit of a top pitching ace to round out their already impressive rotation, but are finding teams only want some of their top prospects and not Kemp. Will the Dodgers find a deal before the July 31 deadline?
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Dodgers would "kill" to trade Kemp before the deadline. The outfielder is simply not deemed as valuable as his contract dictates and Los Angeles would ideally like to clear that money sooner rather than later. However, most teams are reluctant to take him on well-aware of his prima donna attitude and nagging injuries. Rosenthal writes that while the Dodgers would ideally like to include Kemp in a trade for a starting pitcher, they simply must lower their expectations of a return since most MLB general managers go not hold the outfielder to a high regard anymore.
ESPN is reporting that the Dodgers have had their eye on David Price and are trying to work out a deal for the Tampa Bay Rays' Cy Young winner. Price has been on the trade block for the better part of the year, but the Rays have not been satisfied with a return package on him. The Dodgers would love to offer up Kemp and possibly someone else, but ESPN is noting that the Rays want top outfield prospect Joc Pederson instead. They also want young shortstop Corey Seager. Both players have been deemed unavailable at the time.
Losing both Pederson and Seager would be huge blows to the Dodgers future and their minor league system. The team must figure out what they want more. A pitching rotation that consists of Clayton Kershaw, David Price and Zack Grienke certainly screams World Series contenders, but what happens when players like Kemp and Carl Crawford get injured and Pederson, the future, is not there.
The Dodgers might be able to seek out pitchers like Ian Kennedy or one of the numerous Phillies pitchers reportedly available if they want to dump off Kemp. However, any other trade will likely force the team to include one of the young prospects.
