Dodgers Rumors: No Plans To Trade Matt Kemp During Off-Season
For the better part of the last two weeks, trade rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers outfield situation have been running rampant and most of the talk included Matt Kemp.
Kemp is currently in a walking boot after undergoing ankle surgery while also having his left shoulder cleaned up in the off-season as he was plagued by injuries for all of 2013. Even so, teams were hoping to buy low on the 29-year-old center fielder, but according to Jason Stark of ESPN.com, don’t look for a trade this off-season:
Matt Kemp’s agent, Dave Stewart, says #Dodgers informed him today “they have no plans to move him.”
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 11, 2013
It was Stewart who ignited the flame even more this past week, telling reporters that he was heading down to the Winter Meetings because he believed a trade was inevitable. Teams like the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers were all reportedly involved at some point, with the Mariners a logical fit after they signed Robinson Cano to a 10-year, $240 million contract.
Most expect the Dodgers to deal an outfielder this winter, but GM Ned Colletti and president Stan Kasten admitted all along they aren’t shopping anyone, rather just listening to teams calling them about one of them.
However, this still doesn’t rule out a trade involving Andre Ethier, who would seem like the odd man out if the Dodgers go to camp with all four outfielders. The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly in the market for a left-handed outfielder and on Sunday there were whispers about them being possibly interested in a deal for him.
Selling low on Kemp never sounded like a good idea from the Dodgers side of things all along and hopefully the former All-Star player can return to that level next season in Dodger Blue.
UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports asked Stewart if he thought plans could change come Spring Training:
Asked Stewart if that could change, perhaps in spring. Said, “I didn’t ask him that question.” Stewart added, “Ned has never lied to me.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2013
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