Kemp physical unlikely to derail trade to Padres
Matt Kemp’s move to San Diego is stalled, but not derailed. (USATSI)
There is said by several sources to be an issue with Matt Kemp‘s physical that could delay the Padres‘ ultimate decision on whether to go through with the blockbuster deal with the Dodgers, but that still isn’t believed very likely to derail the deal.
People with knowledge of the situation, in fact, still suggest they believe the Kemp trade is still more likely than not to happen, and that makes sense considering how heavily invested both teams are – especially the Dodgers, whose Jimmy Rollins trade appears to be dependent on the Kemp deal happening since one of the players coming from San Diego is expected to be flipped to Philadelphia for Rollins.
There is no evidence yet that the Padres are trying to rework the trade to bring the star outfielder to San Diego, although that can’t be ruled out as a possibility. For now, it is believed that Padres people are studying the examination findings, with the likelihood that they’ll go to insurers to see whether the issue or issues discovered can be insured reasonably.
Kemp has had past ankle, knee and shoulder problems, but it was reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today that the new issue is related to Kemp’s hips. While that couldn’t be confirmed, no one has denied that the problem is indeed that, and it makes sense that a new issue would be more likely to hold things up. Kemp’s past injuries are well documented.
The Padres concluded the physical within the allotted 72 hours, but they could conceivably take another day, or even several days, to weight whether to go ahead with the blockbuster trade. In the interim, San Diego agreed to an 11-player, three-team trade that will net them young slugger Wil Myers provided those physicals check out; although Padres people, aiming to revamp a limp lineup is said by several sources to want both Kemp and Myers, meaning the Myers deal doesn’t affect the Kemp call.
The proposed Kemp deal is to send the 30-year-old star to San Diego for young catcher Yasmani Grandal plus pitching prospects Zach Eflin and Joe Wieland. The Dodgers are sending $32 million to pay down the $107 million remaining on Kemp’s deal over the next five years, according to sources. Eflin is part of the trade to Philly for the shortstop Rollins.
Just as Kemp has had past physical issues, so have a couple of the Padres going to L.A. Grandal had an ACL injury in a knee, and Wieland had a UCL injury in his pitching elbow.
The Padres targeted Kemp as a middle-of-the-order bat they love to help them bolster their offense and re-balance their team that is pitching strong. The Dodgers need to ease an outfield logjam, probably by trading two veteran outfielders (Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford remain candidates to be dealt, though trade of either of those two players would take a more significant paydown of dollars, at least by percentage), and hope to free up some money, some of which they already spent.
While the Dodgers, with their record $240-million payroll in 2014, aren’t exactly hurting for cash, on the same day they agreed to the Kemp deal they also agreed to a $48-million, four-year contract with free agent pitcher Brandon McCarthy. On that same busy day, they also acquired excellent righthanded bat Howie Kendrick to play second base, seemingly in part to replace the righthannded power that will be lost with Kemp presumably going to San Diego.
Kemp hit .287 in 150 games played for the Dodgers last season with 25 home runs and 89 RBI.
If Kemp has to stay in Los Angeles, that would be a messy situation for all involved, but especially the Dodgers.
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