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MLB trade rumors: Top 25 trade assets for deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 21, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) celebrates after he hit the game winning two-run home run in the eleventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) celebrates after he hit the game winning two-run home run in the eleventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

23. Matt Kemp

When Matt Kemp moved from the San Diego Padres to the Braves last year, it was basically a swap of players on bad contracts with some money being shuffled around. Kemp’s demeanor had soured the Padres so much that they traded him for embattled Cuban infielder Hector Olivera and promptly released him. As is such, the Braves are on the hook for less than $16 million of Kemp’s salary for the next two years.

Kemp was immediately revitalized upon landing in Atlanta. Whatever sour attitude he displayed in San Diego was gone, and he batted .280/.336/.519 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in two months with the Braves after the trade. He has been even better this year and is hitting over .300 with even more power and an OPS over .900.

The speed and defensive prowess that made Kemp an MVP candidate with the Dodgers is mostly gone at this point. He seems destined to finish out his massive $160-million contract as a DH or first baseman in the American League. Kemp is a mercurial superstar, but if you put him with a contender for the rest of his contract and let him bat fourth, there will be no problem. If Kemp’s high price tag is a turn-off, contenders may push for Matt Adams, although it is unclear how much the Braves plan to shop him since they are committed to trying Freddie Freeman at third base.

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