Dodgers Rumors: Team Not Close To Making A Trade
Matt Kemp, the Dodgers outfielder who believes he’s playing out of position, has also been a hot name in recent days. However, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are not close to completing any trades:
Sources: #Dodgers not close to any significant deal. Kemp doing well in RF; some wary of moving his RH bat, esp w injury history of OFers.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 26, 2014
General belief holds that Kemp is the outfielder most likely to be traded given his age and some hope of a turnaround. That notion was furthered by recent comments from Dave Stewart, Kemp’s agent, that the outfielder was open to a trade and after eight seasons in Los Angeles, a change may be good.
Not only have the Dodgers have reportedly taken calls on Kemp, they’ve also placed them according to a CBS Sports report. Kemp has made his desire to play in center field perfectly clear, and so too has manager Don Mattingly with his unwillingness to return him there.
After being benched and taken out of center field due to poor defensive play, Kemp somewhat begrudgingly took over in left field when Carl Crawford suffered a sprained ankle.
Kemp flourished in June with regular playing and has since been moved over to right field. Another of Kemp’s wishes is he play every day, which being in right field will allow for.
The Dodgers search for a solution in center has now landed on Yasiel Puig, who made his first start there this season on Friday; it was his seventh start there in his career. Mattingly said he is unsure how long Puig will remain in center field, but believes he’s the team’s best option.
Mattingly recently referred to Joc Pederson as the best center fielder in the organization and it was reported Pederson is who Mattingly prefers over Kemp, which has caused friction.
Despite carrying an abundance of outfielders, the Dodgers have routinely opted against cutting into their surplus and they may remain on that same path.
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