While the Los Angeles Dodgers were quiet throughout the Winter Meetings, they made quite the splash on Saturday by acquiring Matt Kemp from the Atlanta Braves in a five-player trade. The Braves received Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and cash considerations.
The deal, a stunner on the surface, meets goals for both teams. By unloading Gonzalez, Kazmir and McCarthy, all of whom are on expiring contracts, the Dodgers project to get under the luxury tax threshold for the 2018 season.
Meanwhile, the Braves added a versatile infielder in Culberson, potential options to fill out their starting rotation, and cleared room in the outfield for their young players while simultaneously ridding themselves of $40 million in salary owed to Kemp.
Gonzalez was designated for assignment and thrust into free agency. Kemp might face a similar fate, as the Dodgers reportedly are considering trading or releasing the 33-year-old.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he was open with Kemp about the lack of clarity and his potential standing with the organization, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group:
Andrew Friedman said he's talked to Matt Kemp. "I was very honest and open with him about what the future might hold."
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) December 16, 2017
Trading Kemp was one of Friedman’s first moves after being hired as president of baseball operations. The 2014 deal with the San Diego Padres grew complicated and risked coming undone because of Kemp’s leaked medical records, but ultimately was pushed through.
A Dodgers’ 2003 draft pick, Kemp has struggled in recent years. He bounced back from a down 2016 season to hit .276/.318/.463 with 23 home runs, 19 doubles, 64 RBI and a 103 OPS+ in 115 games for the Braves.
Considering injuries have robbed him of the explosiveness and athleticism seen in his early years, plus the Dodgers’ outfield depth, Kemp best profiles to be traded to an American League team.
