Report: Dodgers trade Matt Kemp to Padres
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The San Diego Padres waited until the final day of one of the most frenzied winter meetings in recent memory to make a splash. And did they ever.
Multiple reports said Thursday that San Diego - the host city of this year's meetings - is set to acquire superstar slugger Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a package that includes catcher Yasmani Grandal.
The Padres will also receive Dodgers catcher Tim Federowicz and approximately $32 million to cover part of the $107 million owed to Kemp over the next five seasons. The Dodgers' return reportedly includes right-hander Joe Wieland and 20-year-old pitcher Zach Eflin, according to multiple reports.
An official announcement is expected to be delayed given the medical histories of the players involved, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.
Thursday morning's reported trade came on the heels of arguably the busiest transaction day in franchise history. The club is rumored to have acquired a new double play combination in Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins, while reportedly inking free-agent starter Brandon McCarthy to a four-year deal.
The flurry of moves caps a frantic two-month stretch for the Dodgers that saw the club bring in coveted executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi to rebuild the most expensive roster in major-league history.
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The 30-year-old Kemp has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons, forcing the two-time All-Star to the corner outfield and reportedly triggering clubhouse malcontent. Kemp's recent injury history includes surgery on his shoulder and both ankles.
Kemp's turbulent 2014 in Los Angeles hit a crescendo in late May after the superstar slugger lost his starting center field job and was benched for several games after struggling defensively.
He responded emphatically.
The nine-year veteran flourished after his move to right field, hitting 17 of his 25 homers and posting a .989 OPS from July 21 through the end of the year. Kemp's .606 slugging percentage led all major leaguers during the second half.
While Kemp's offensive value figures to suffer at spacious Petco Park, the right-handed slugger owns a solid .322/.372/.495 slash line with seven homers and 14 doubles in 59 games in San Diego.
Grandal (pictured above), meanwhile, will likely assume the starting job behind the plate for the Dodgers after hitting 15 homers with a .327 on-base percentage across 128 games in 2014.
The 26-year-old's development has been mostly slowed by injury, but nonetheless represents a significant upgrade at the position over last year's starter A.J. Ellis, who is arbitration-eligible this winter.
Grandal - who was suspended for 50 games in 2012 after testing positive for testosterone use - was selected 12th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 draft. He remains under club control through 2018 and is not arbitration-eligible until next winter.
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Wieland, 24, spent most of his time in the minors last season and has appeared in just four games since 2012 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The big right-hander pitched to a 3.03 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings across three minor-league levels in 2014.