Matt Kemp has gone through quite the journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers, being drafted by them in 2003 and spending the first nine seasons of his Major League career with the club.
The Dodgers traded Kemp to the San Diego Padres in 2014, but he eventually found his way home as they completed a salary-motivated deal with the Atlanta Braves last offseason that brought Kemp back to Los Angeles.
Kemp wasn’t expected to remain with the Dodgers for the 2018 season, but after they were unable to trade him he began the season as the team’s starting left fielder. That ended up working well for both sides as Kemp had a resurgence, being named a National League starter in the All-Star Game and eventually winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
His second stint with the Dodgers was short-lived though. Kemp was traded away from Los Angeles for a second time on Friday, being sent to the Cincinnati Reds along with Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer for Homer Bailey and two prospects in what was another salary-motivated trade.
After being traded, Kemp took to Instagram to thank the organization, fans and his teammates for welcoming him back to Los Angeles with open arms:
While Kemp’s second stint with the Dodgers didn’t last nearly as long as his first, he did get a chance to play in a World Series for the first time in his career. The trade should bring about more of an opportunity for Kemp to play as he began to platoon in the second half this year.
