Thursday, December 11, 2014

Hot Stove Update: Dodgers Trade Kemp Within Division, Not To Giants

Giants pitchers will still have to face Matt Kemp about 100 times next season, but he will be in the Padres lineup instead of the Dodgers.  The Padres send the Dodgers C/1B Yasmani Grandal, RHP Joe Wieland and probably RHP prospect Zach Eflin.  The Padres also acquire C Tim Fedorowicz in the trade.  The Dodgers will also send $30 M to the Padres to help cover Kemp's salary.  With the trade, the Dodgers clear out some of the logjam in their OF and get a serious catcher in Grandal.  Both Kemp and Grandal have had trouble staying healthy.

Kemp really fell on hard times on the field after 2011 in which he came within a HR of a 40/40 season mainly due to a string of serious injuries to his shoulders and legs.  He came back strong at the plate in the second half last year hitting .309 with 17 HR and was probably the Dodgers best hitter down the stretch.  The rap on Kemp in addition to his injuries is horrific defense.  There was also some friction over him wanting to play CF when he wasn't even able to play well in a corner.  I'm thinking that if he can avoid additional injuries and let his body heal a bit more, he can improve is defense to at least acceptable corner OF levels.  I have to confess, I've always been a huge Matt Kemp fan.  My daughter and I were watching a game in 2011 and she made a negative comment about him.  My response was the only thing wrong with Matt Kemp is he plays for the wrong team.  I would love to have a player like him on the Giants!  I'm not so sure of that after all the injuries and poor D in the OF, but man, dude can still hit!

The Dodgers still have to sort out playing time in the OF for Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson and that does not even count Scott Van Slyke and Chris Heisey.  Gotta think they might trade one more OF before they are done.  I have to say I really like Grandal as a player.  Although he does not hit for much of an average, he has beaucoup power and is a good defensive catcher.  The Dodgers apparently like his pitch framing skills.  He will likely be the Dodgers starting C with AJ Ellis moving to a backup role. Ellis can be a tough out, but he also is not a major threat in the lineup and pitchers get a relative breather when they face him.  He is also not a very good defensive catcher.

The big question in Giants fans minds is where does this leave the Dodgers as a division rival.  I guess it comes down to whether you trust WAR scores or your eyeballs more.  By WAR, the Dodgers are likely to be a better team in 2015 after these trades.  On the other hand, Matt Kemp is the kind of hitter that can carry a lineup for months and Dee Gordon is downright scary on the basepaths, so those are two things the Giants don't have to worry about anymore, at least when they face the Dodgers.  Pederson looks like a good all around player, but is he going to be the offensive force that Matt Kemp has been when healthy?  He would have to be one of the very best players in the game to make that happen.

As for the Padres, it will come down to whether Kemp can stay healthy or not.  If he can, man, that is instant respect in that lineup!

What do you think of these trades?

Meanwhile, the Giants Winter Meetings delegation continues to wander around with dazed looks on their faces.

17 comments:

  1. I am still trying to see how the Dodgers got better via these trades. Kemp's second half last year was incredible and Gordon was an all star. They dumped $67M on Kemp's which is a good thing for them. But they picked up a couple has beens and a few 1 year rentals. I dont get it. Never seen so much turnover for a team who won their division the previous year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saber guys are going to put a LOT of stock in Kemp's poor D.

      Dodgers are not done moving. Kemp to the Pads clears money for Pitching. (Cole or Max)

      Delete
    2. it doesnt

      no one in the mlb wants ethier or crawford and it appears that only the friars would work with the bums to take kemp off their hands

      they had to send gordon to the fish in order for them to take haren....despite covering almost all of haren's salary

      and still the dodgers dont have a pen...so friedman has tons of work to do

      he also has an older team....which means more chances of players going to the dl

      bacci

      Delete
  2. And Cespedes goes to Detroit for Rick Porcello. Detroit has another trade in the works for one of Cincy's pitchers. Marlins also rumored to be about to acquire a pitcher via trade.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Heard Giants are going hard on James Shields. Blah. Waste of money and a draft pick IMO. Rather have Vogelsong than Shields.

    With all of these high profile trades going on you have to wonder what the Giants are doing. Time to start making a move. Sign Chase Headley and trade for a SP.

    ReplyDelete
  4. If you can't buy chemistry, trade for it. Friedman is busy and that keeps the bosses happy.

    Kemp is the kind of player you invest in and build your team around. They don't come along very often. So it begs the question, what are the Buns investing in? I don't see one player coming to them who is game changing. They gave up Gordon and Kemp, both game changers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ssunds lie SHIELDS might be the Giants target now...Hope it's a 3 year (or 3 plus option) contract..Alot of innings...But alot of consistency and darn good pitcher who would fit in to the Giants way of doign things..Is there a better option out there for only money?

    Don't like giving up a draft pick, but don't we get one back for Sandoval also?

    SteveVA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. However, the pick we receive is after the first round. The pick we would give up has a chance on below as high as 16-17 overall. Right now it is at 19 I believe.

      Delete
    2. and a bust in the post season

      and word is he is asking for a lot....and a longer contract then 3

      so, they should take a pass

      bacci

      Delete
    3. Thanks for the clarification Roger, hadn't realized Boston finished that low...

      As for Shields, true he didn't have a good PO and hasn't done well in any POs but he has been very strong and consistent almost every regular season.....Depends on the csot and years to me.. but i am open to other choices (Santanna signed with Twins for 13 mil for 4 years)...Any FAs better and more consistent then Shields? I'm all ears...But, also, I find it hard to argue with the Giants evaluation of pitchers..Hmm..we'll see...


      I just think it's mandatory the Giants pick up a pithcer they can count on for 3-4 years..I like some of the Minor League pitchers, but they are taking their time and there are no sure shots IMO.

      Of course, my first choice would be Hamels...Not a single Giant prospect (or three) I wouldn't give up for him--say Crick (highest potential but maybe a bullpen arm), Susac, Duffy, ??..You have the number 1 ,2 and 3 (Cain will come back) for years...Much easier to fill the other spots every year....If HAMELS is too rich, any other controllable top 2-3 starter on the trade market?

      SteveVA

      Delete
    4. It doesn't matter how Boston did. The new CBA states that a compensatory pick comes after the first round. It is not like the old days where you get that teams pick. I believe our first round pick is currently at 19 because the Mariners signed Nelson Cruz. If any other teams that have unprotected picks and are higher in the order as us, such as the Yankees, and sign a player with a QO from another team they lose that pick and we would move up.

      Delete
  6. Would you say that the league is hesitant to trade with the Giants? Sabean tends to find the lightning in the bottle a few times and people start asking themselves twice whether they want to trade with him. Not sure how available Crick, Beede, or Susac are in these trade talks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to say the league doesn't understand Sabean. He doesn't conform to the standards of the new-age GM's, yet he gets the results. Personally, I think he's a bit of an outcast with this new group of "I can re-organize my roster better and faster than you can" crowd. Just a gut feeling, but I think his relationship with some of the other GMs and agents has soured quite a bit in recent years. Not that I have a problem with that, but why else would the organization make so many comments hinting at ridiculous trade proposals from other teams? Yet those same teams roster shuffle with each other like they're playing fantasy baseball? Something just doesn't add up, and my gut says it's having an effect on Sabes' ability to get his offseason work done. Hey, as long as we keep winning, I personally don't care how he makes it happen!

      Delete
  7. confirmed that the dodgers have signed mccarthy for 4 years

    huh?

    i like the guy and his wife is a hoot....but this is a strange signing

    and im really upset that now, i must hate him and his hilarious wife

    bacci

    ReplyDelete
  8. Interesting...in Rule 5 Draft the Giants drafted Del Orbe and Cal's own Brett Jackson.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Minor League phase to the Giants don't have to keep them at any given level or add them to the 40 man roster to keep them all season. Gives 'em time to evaluate and work with them. I remember when Brett Jackson was a highly regarded prospect.

      Delete
    2. Ooh did not know that. So, maybe our now "batter whisperers" can fix him up! I sure hope so! Go Bears!

      Delete