Dodgers News: Matt Kemp ‘Excited’ For Dave Stewart
Dave Stewart represented Kemp when he signed the eight-year, $160 million contract and this season adamantly stated his client was still an everyday player. Stewart relinquished his role as an agent when he accepted the general manager position with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Along with hiring away Stewart, who also represented Chad Billingsley, the D-Backs hired former Dodgers vice president and director of player development, De Jon Watson. While Kemp will need new representation, he expressed nothing but happiness for Stewart’s next chapter, via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:
I was just excited for him,” Kemp said. “I think this is something he’s wanted to do for a long, long time. He’s done everything in the game of baseball except that. This is another challenge for him. I think he likes challenges. I’m just happy. It couldn’t happen to a better person.”
While Kemp wished his former agent and someone he considers family well, he added a caveat to any success Stewart may have:
I want him to be successful, but I don’t want him to be too successful against us. I know if one day he beats us and I have a bad game, he might talk some mess to me. I can’t have that. I have to have the upper hand.”
With Kemp involved in trade rumors earlier in the year, Stewart said the outfielder was open to being traded, which Kemp later clarified. When rumors persisted, Stewart said he hoped the Dodgers traded Kemp with his preferred destination being the Boston Red Sox.
Now the Diamondbacks’ general manager, Stewart will present a different set of challenges to the Dodgers moving forward.
