Reds release 3-time All-Star Matt Kemp

The Cincinnati Reds have released outfielder Matt Kemp, the club announced Saturday.

Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers alongside Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood in an offseason trade, Kemp was hitting .200/.210/.283 with one home run and 19 strikeouts in 20 games this season. He's been on the 10-day injured list since April 23 with a broken rib.

"After giving it time to develop, we didn't see Matt fitting in. We wanted to give him the opportunity to help another team," Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams said of Kemp's release, according to John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer.

The 34-year-old outfielder was in the final season of an eight-year, $160-million contract that was paying him $21.5 million in 2019, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts.

Kemp enjoyed a resurgent 2018 in his return to Los Angeles after three seasons split between San Diego and Atlanta. He made the NL All-Star team thanks largely to an excellent first half, during which he slashed .310/.352/.522 with 15 home runs.

One of baseball's most feared sluggers early in his career, Kemp's most memorable campaign came in 2011 when he narrowly missed a 40-40 season with 39 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He finished second in MVP voting that season behind Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Reds promoted top hitting prospect Nick Senzel before Friday's game and appear set to deploy Senzel alongside Puig and Jesse Winker in the outfield going forward. The team optioned Scott Schebler to Triple-A on Saturday, as well, but he could return at some point.