Matt Kemp

[zwiefz]

Article on ESPN.com says Matt Kemp would like to be traded in order to be an everyday center fielder.

 

With Buxton's progression slowed down quite a bit because of the injury should the Twins have any interest at all?

 

I think the biggest issue with this is the length/amount of money left on Kemp's contract. How much would the Dodgers have to be willing to pay for it to make sense? And what kind of prospects/players would you be willing to give up?

 

I haven't heard a direct connection between the Twins and Kemp, but figured I'd start a discussion anyway. For the right price in money and prospects it might be a good fit to see if he can return to his previous form for a season or two until Buxton is ready and then Kemp could slide back to a corner spot.

[Mike Sixel]

he's not ever healthy, and he's not that good anymore. Not sure why the Twins would do this. If he was healthy, maybe.

 

I'd want his salary under $10MM per year, and I'd want to give up Kepler or someone like that, throw in Duensing if you want....

[drjim]

4 more years at $21 mil per. That is quite the risk.

 

I would want that down to 14-15 before I would think about it, and I would give up something of substance, none of the top 6, but perhaps something in the next tier if the Dodgers take back enough money.

 

This is much more likely in the offseason.

[Winston Smith]

If the cost fits do it, he is better than what we have now.

[beckmt]

Depends on the prospects, but do not see the Twins doing this. Dodgers would want a starting pitcher(Nolasco?) and at least one of the Twins top 5 and another probably top 20 prospect. Might look at it if they would take Nolasco off our hands, but then it would depend on the rest of the package.

[nicksaviking]

I'd listen but not if the Dodgers want top prospects in return.

 

The problem is, as soon as Buxton is ready, we're going to hear the same complaining about playing CF.

 

Also, a guy who's a starter on a championship caliber team is asking to get traded. It's not even like he's on the bench and wants to play more. It's pretty easy to see he's much less concerned with winning than he is with getting his way.

[gunnarthor]

Man, he has a -2.4 dWAR value in LF? His bat is ok.

 

I don't know. If we traded for him, I think we'd need a better handle on his defensive abilities. That said, isn't he used to dating hollywood types? I don't think he'd want to come to MN anyway.

 

The team has enough payroll room to bring him on and he's young enough (29) where he wouldn't automatically be a albatross in 2018 but if he's a worse defender than Willingham ... no thank you.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

No way do the Twins want to sign 29 year old Kemp. $21,000,000 for 2014. $21,500,000 for 2015. It gets worse...totaling $107,000,000 through 2019 season. His BIS Defensive Runs Saved Above Average is -44 in 2014 and for his 9 year career, he has averaged -12. He only has 8 HR this year and is hitting .270. Last year he hit .269. His WAR is -1.2 this year. There are reasons he is not an everyday CF...but at $21,000,000 per year, he would be an albatross.

[Mike Sixel]

I didn't know his D was that bad. And, now that I think about it, his attitude is not ideal.....I'm less interested the more I think about it.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I'm quoting Gunnarthur "That said, isn't he used to dating hollywood types? I don't think he'd want to come to MN anyway." Uh oh Gun...I want to go officially on record right here, right now and state that there are many, many absolutely gorgeous women in Minnesota.

[DaveW]

no.

[gunnarthor]

No way do the Twins want to sign 29 year old Kemp. $21,000,000 for 2014. $21,500,000 for 2015. It gets worse...totaling $107,000,000 through 2019 season. His BIS Defensive Runs Saved Above Average is -44 in 2014 and for his 9 year career, he has averaged -12. He only has 8 HR this year and is hitting .270. Last year he hit .269. His WAR is -1.2 this year. There are reasons he is not an everyday CF...but at $21,000,000 per year, he would be an albatross.

And let me clarify that, while I said they could afford him, I did expect that the Dodgers would eat some of that salary.

[tobi0040]

And let me clarify that, while I said they could afford him, I did expect that the Dodgers would eat some of that salary.

 

 

When a team shoots themselves in the foot with a terrible contract, a complainer, a declining guy....best move is to let it happen. We should not go near this guy.

[twinsfan34]

Without a doubt, no. Not even if he was given to us for no prospects, just pay his salary. "Return to Sender."

[ericchri]

If they eat all of his salary (to the tune of we pay him about $1 million per year), then we can start considering it. Otherwise it's not worth the trouble it brings.

[diehardtwinsfan]

This makes no sense at all for the Twins. He's not playing well and will likely be eclipsed by any of the Twins CF prospects. He cost 21M/yr and will cost prospects. The Twins need a 1 year stop gap in CF, not a 4 year bad contract.

[beckmt]

Depends on how badly the Dodgers want to get rid of him. A few years ago he was a top 10 major league talent. He still is 29, maybe the Dodgers just aren't working out for him and a change in scenery is in order, I still would not want to give up top 10 prospects to get him, unless the Dodgers ate most of his salary would be reluctant to give up a top 20 prospect. Twins could still do much worse depending on the scenario, but would look hard at it.