Rosenthal: Dodgers Might Consider Kemp-Bay Deal

by Charlie on Jun 12, 2008 4:16 AM EDT Comment 14 comments

There appears to be a fair amount of speculation involved in this article, but it's definitely interesting:

Make outfielder Matt Kemp available, and the Dodgers' trade options quickly would multiply. Make Kemp available, and the team could put together a package for virtually any hitter on the trade market — the Pirates' Jason Bay, maybe the Tigers' Magglio Ordonez, maybe even the Rockies' Matt Holliday.

To this point, the Dodgers have resisted moving Kemp or any of their other top young players, but their stance might be changing. "If we get to the point where we can definitively improve ourselves, we'll do it," general manager Ned Colletti told the Los Angeles Times.

Rival executives are skeptical, considering that the Dodgers frequently have backed out of trades involving their youngsters. Dodgers officials, however, say privately that they are indeed more willing to break up their young core. If that is true, Kemp would bring the greatest return...

Bay is the most attainable of the hitters under contract beyond this season. He is not yet 30, ranks 12th in the NL in on-base/slugging percentage and qualifies as a bargain at $5.75 million this season and $7.5 million in '09. Even so, the Dodgers probably would require the Pirates to expand the deal rather than trade Kemp for Bay straight-up — and the Pirates have pitching to spare.

I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again: Kemp is a terrific young player, and while he isn't a sure thing, his upside is stratospheric. I'd move Bay straight up to get him. "Dodgers officials" and "willing to break up their young core" are two phrases any Pirates fan should love hearing in the same sentence.

There's some praise for John Russell and the Bucs later in this Rosenthal article as well, by the way.

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What am I missing here?

Dodgers ERA is a full run lower than ours…and they say we have pitching to spare??

by Thunder on Jun 12, 2008 4:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We've drafted so much pitching early

in recent years that someone’s gotta be expendable, right?
JVB. Bullington. Burnett. Moskos?

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by UtesFan89 on Jun 12, 2008 7:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

they would consider one of those but maybe Marte. Isn’t he going to be gone from the Pirates soon anyway?

by WestCoastBuc on Jun 12, 2008 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

.306/.343/.476

career MLB hitter as a 21-23 year old (674 at bats), and he can run. His ability to rake coupled with his inability to command the strike zone is confusing, but he has proven he can do it consistently.

He could roam right field in PNC for a long time.

by DITO on Jun 12, 2008 9:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

They’d take Lincoln?

Kemp-Cutch-McLouth would look like a pretty good OF for awhile.

by bucdaddy on Jun 12, 2008 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that makes sense from either side

If they want pitching back, they’re going to want someone that helps them in the big leagues today, I’m sure. Doesn’t make sense for them to take on a prospect, and it doesn’t make sense for the Bucs to give one up.

Definitely would deal Bay/Marte for Kemp though

by mak_DC on Jun 12, 2008 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lincoln?

He’s our only real pitching prospect! (maybe).

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by whygavs on Jun 12, 2008 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he means...

...Snell.

by Vlad on Jun 12, 2008 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

given the market (and our dearth) for pitching these days – even with snell’s current numbers considered – i’m not sure that snell for kemp is a good deal even without bay in it.

by johnnycuff on Jun 12, 2008 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is a chance I'd support that deal

if it were Bay and Snell for Kemp and a couple high up side young guys in A or AA a ball. But even then, Snell has a relatively cheap contract and even though he is struggling he is still throwing pretty hard and striking people out.

by DITO on Jun 12, 2008 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This trade makes sense for the Dodgers

if the Dodger GM is an idiot and the owner a meddlesome fool.

The former is a suspicion some have about Colletti, the latter an established fact.

So, I’d not rule this one out.

Steve Z

by steve_z on Jun 12, 2008 4:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see how Bay for Kemp straight up helps LA very much.

Bay is having a nice year, but so is Kemp and he is much younger and faster.

Bay + Marte for Kemp could be a pretty good deal both ways (if LA needs late relief help) but they already have Saito and Broxton? Maybe they need a lefty.

I don’t want to trade Snell. Without Snell, our entire starting rotation would be lefty, no velocity types. I feel like Snell has the most upside of any of our current starters. Trading him doesn’t make sense unless you are getting a lot back (or if he is totally failing to produce as the deadline nears)

by houksyndrome on Jun 13, 2008 3:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs