THE RUMOR: Just days after shipping Melvin Upton to the Toronto Blue Jays, the San Diego Padres are are looking to move another outfielder — Matt Kemp. San Diego has reportedly discussed the former All-Star with two teams, including the lowly Atlanta Braves.
REPORTED BY: Jim Bowden, ESPN
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DETAILS: It seems like Kemp has been in the league forever, but at just 31 years old he should have a handful of prime years left. And if the Padres are willing to pay most of his $21.75 million salary in addition to the $3.5 being paid by the Dodgers, as Bowden reported, his power bat could be valuable in the middle of the order with Freddie Freeman.
THIS SEASON: Kemp’s power numbers are impressive this season with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs, but his .285 on-base percentage is the lowest of his 11-year career.
OUR TAKE: The Padres are unloading players and the Braves badly need more power. Aside from Freeman’s 18 long balls, Adonis Garcia is second on the team with just eight. With the team moving into a new stadium next year they need more excitement (and runs) in the lineup. It all depends on what the Braves need to give up to bring in Kemp. At 36-67, the Braves are 25 games back in the NL East and don’t have the look of a contender anytime soon (even with Dansby Swanson waiting to make his mark). So if they can hold on to prospects and not jeopardize the long-term plan of the front office, it’s hard to argue with the addition of Kemp — especially if his previous two teams are footing a large portion of the bill.