Dodgers Rumors: Kemp Traded To Padres For Grandal, Eflan, Wieland
UPDATE (Dec. 18, 5:40 p.m. PST): After speculation and plenty of waiting, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com is reporting that the deal is done:
Dodgers deal w/ Pads on Kemp is gonna go through. They didn't have to give up anything extra, after that ordeal
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 19, 2014
There are still some final details to work thru, but the ordeal is over, though not soon forgotten. Kemp will be a Pad. Rollins a Dodger.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 19, 2014
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ makeover began Wednesday with reports they traded for Jimmy Rollins, though the deal has yet to be finalized as of Thursday morning. What did become official Wednesday night was the Dodgers sending Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas, and a player to be named later or cash considerations to the Miami Marlins for a quartet of prospects.
One of which, Andrew Heaney, a highly-touted southpaw, was then flipped to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Howie Kendrick, giving the Dodgers a new middle infield combination. The trade activity sent shock waves throughout baseball and many believe the Dodgers weren’t finished.
Early Thursday morning, the next shoe fell into place as the Dodgers agreed to send Matt Kemp and Tim Federowicz to the San Diego Padres for Yasmani Grandal, Joe Wieland and a pitching prospect, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports:
Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz will be sent to the Padres in a package deal for catcher Yasmani Grandal, pitcher Joe Wieland and at least one prospect. The deal, which will also have the Dodgers sending about $31 million to cover part of the remaining $107 million in Kemp’s contract, is expected to be finalized today.
According to Kirk Kenney and Dennis Lin, the prospect the Dodgers will receive is Zach Eflin:
According to sources, the Padres are packaging Grandal with right-hander Joe Wieland and another arm, likely right-hander Zach Eflin.
A trade between the two division opponents seemed almost inevitable given the Padres’ desire to acquire a power bat and the Dodgers’ looking to upgrade at the catcher’s position. Kemp struggled through much of the first half last season and was consistently mentioned in trade rumors, though nothing materialized and he played well in the second half, which coincided with being moved into right field.
Kemp finished the season batting .287/.346/.506 with 25 home runs and 89 RBIs. With him and Hanley Ramirez no longer in the lineup, the Dodgers are currently thin on power right-handed bats. Wieland made his return from Tommy John surgery in 2012 and spent the year in the Minors until joining the Padres in September.
In time ranging from the Padres’ Rookie League to the Triple-A level, the right-hander finished a combined 2-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Wieland then went 1-0 in four appearances (two starts) with the Padres but finished with a 7.15 ERA and 1.85 WHIP.
In trading Kemp it alleviates some of the outfield logjam, however the Dodgers would still benefit from moving either Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier. Given that the trade for Rollins hasn’t been announced, it’s possible the Dodgers will send one or more of the acquired players to the Phillies in a deal that some believe could expand to involving Cole Hamels.
Kemp won’t need to wait long to face his former team as the Dodgers host the Padres for a three-game series beginning April 6 to open the 2015 season.
Stupid absolutely stupid!!!!!!!!! Dodgers better be getting a power right handed bat not named Howie Kendrick on top of getting Hamels now. Damn man.
Givin away Kemp and paying 30 million on top of that for another player passed his prime a unproven player theses guys are fucken idiots sounds like the Kevin brown deal of the past and the Paul Konerko Deal you members him he had a stellar career with the white sox Matt Kemp will be beasting on the Dodgers for years to come I’ll just be laughing at those dumb asses who traded him the team went from youth to a retirement home for players just wanting to collect a free check Smmfh but I still stay blue for life not happy with the brass just one angry dodger fan
What a frigging joke giving away some of our best players. The fact that they gave a good prospect pitcher to the Angels shows how stupid the front office is. Why not have Barney and Turner platoon second base and keep the prospect? My blood is boiling right now. And why trade Kemp for some possible prospects and another crappy catcher. I am so so ???????? I could just ????????.
All last season Kemp was considered troublesome in the Dodgers. Whining about not playing center and chastising younger players instead of trying to mentor them. Yes he has a big bat and yes we are probably going to miss that, but give our front office some credit, they have landed players that will defiantly help our club
Brian and Steve and Magil, I am sure just a year ago you were lambasting Kemp and couldn’t wait to get him out of town, now you loath the move? We just got more prospects and an everyday catcher for a player who has a bad attitude and injury prone. Dodgers are not done, so give it a chance
I never trashed Kemp even through the bad times, he is my sons favorite player.
Why give up the excitement of power in a game that lack power for so many years, losing of fans for the basics guess of what numbers of stats of old players when we had the stats of future players.
I dont know what the hell the Dodgers are doing. We get new front office personell to do this shat
Doyers fans showing their true colors. Half of them hate Kemp, half of them regret the move.
What a huge mistake kemp is a proven winner and a beast at the plate the front office will regret this one sided trade .We will miss you Matt Kemp
Are all the smart Dodgers fans on Dodgers Digest?
Well I made my view plain earlier, I do not like the trade, but it is a done deal so there is no going back…I do not think as much of Grandal as most people who like the trade do. And I definitely think the Padres got the better of the deal, since Elfin is being shipped to Philly. I do not believe Grandal’s power numbers will translate to Dodger Stadium, and besides the fact he has a pretty good OBP, I do not trust his knee, or his character. Once a druggie always a druggie..But that is my opinion. I do not expect others to agree. But as a fan of this team for over 60 years, I would rather have the power and RBI capability of Matt….than the question mark that is Grandal….Kemp is going to come back to haunt the Dodgers..Bank on it….and SD made 2 more trade today that solidifies their offense, and makes them more dangerous than the Giants. Getting Myers, and then this afternoon Norris (no relation) from the A’s
Come on man…how did the giants win the world series… They didn’t have NO power hitters… They had clutch hitters they had chemistry they have good rotation pitching a good bullpen great defense… Come there’s a reason why WE NOT the president…I believe… Dodger blue all day