Report: Red Sox considering Dodgers' Matt Kemp in potential Lester deal
Tap here to access our MLB Trade Tracker which includes all trades and rumors leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.
The Boston Red Sox are reportedly interested in acquiring Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes.
Sources tell Edes the Red Sox are considering a trade for the disgruntled outfielder, potentially as part of a deal involving left-hander Jon Lester.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the Dodgers' interest in Boston's ace but cautioned against the logistics of a clean Kemp-for-Lester swap.
Kemp, who is owed $107 million beyond this season, fell out of favor with the Dodgers after manager Don Mattingly regulated him to a corner outfield role as a result of poor defense stemming from his surgically-repaired ankle.
While the Dodgers are said to be interested in the 30-year-old Lester, they are reportedly unwilling to part with top prospect Joc Pederson.
Lester, who is a free agent at the end of the season, said he would be interested in returning to Boston next season if he's moved. He was even more direct in comments made to WEEI on Sunday, saying it's unlikely he would sign an extension if a team acquires him by next week's deadline.
But my ultimate goal would be to come back here. That would be, like I said the other day, I know that’s hard to do. I know it doesn’t happen very often. But I understand it. I get it.
Money doesn’t buy you happiness. There’s some guys, that drives them. That’s great. For me, I want to be happy. I want to be comfortable. I want to be in a place that wants me and appreciates what I do.
Kemp's fall from grace has been swift but he's shown promise at the plate recently. The 29-year-old is hitting .302/.371/.442 with 15 extra-base hits in 194 plate appearances since the end of May.
Despite experiencing a down year from his career averages, Kemp would bring much-needed pop to Boston's light-hitting outfield and surely benefit as a right-handed hitter at Fenway.
Here's a look at how Kemp measures up to the current crop of Red Sox outfielders:
Name | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brock Holt | .313 | .361 | .436 | .351 |
Matt Kemp | .273 | .339 | .429 | .339 |
Shane Victorino | .281 | .311 | .404 | .313 |
Daniel Nava | .253 | .335 | .326 | .301 |
Jackie Bradley Jr | .233 | .308 | .320 | .284 |
Finally, nothing seems imminent as of Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET:
HEADLINES
- Yankees score 15 vs. Brewers in consecutive games to win series
- Crew chief: Judge should've been called for interference on slide during rally
- Twins win 7th straight with rout of struggling Angels
- Tucker leads Astros to second win over Rockies in Mexico City
- MLB's most unlikely breakout, 8 more observations