MLB Trade Rumors: Padres’ Matt Kemp on the trade block
The San Diego Padres could have a valuable trade chip if outfielder Matt Kemp keeps on producing.
A little over a year after the San Diego Padres traded for outfielder Matt Kemp, they are allegedly interested in trading him.
Kemp has done well so far in 2016 with 10 home runs and a .500 slugging percentage. The Padres are interested in moving him while his value is still relatively high compared to where it has been in recent years.
Kemp is due $60 million (including this season) through the 2019 season, as the Los Angeles Dodgers are paying the Padres $32 million as a part of the trade that sent Kemp from the Dodgers to the Padres.
The #Padres may have nice trade chip this summer in OF Matt Kemp, who has 10 homers and 29 RBI, and is being made available.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 18, 2016
It would be interesting to see what his market is. He’s not that great of a defender and while his slugging percentage is impressive, his OBP of .264 leaves a lot to be desired.
The Padres are a bit handcuffed if they want to trade Kemp for two reasons. First of all, there’s his contract. $15 million a year isn’t a horrible price to pay for Kemp, but the Padres will likely have to pay for at least a part of his contract in order to get a respectable return for him.
Secondly, the Padres are likely limited to trading him to an American League team because his defense has gone from barely passable to outright horrendous.
American League teams could still be interested in Kemp as a designated hitter, but it’s hard to imagine that any team is going to take a shot at Kemp if they have to pay him $15 million a year.
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