Dodgers, Padres complete five-player Matt Kemp trade
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have completed their trade involving outfielder Matt Kemp, the teamsannounced Thursday night.
The deal had previously been agreed to but was held up Thursday because a physical revealed arthritis in Kemp's hips, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale.
Yahoo Sports reports that the Padres returned to the Dodgers seeking greater compensation due to concerns about Kemp's long-term health but ultimately agreed to the original terms.
The deal initially came together on the final day of last week's winter meetings, with the Dodgers agreeing to trade Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz to the Padres in exchange for catcher Yasmani Grandal, right-hander Joe Wieland and 20-year-old right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin, the Padres’ first-round pick in 2012.
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The Kemp trade going through means the Dodgers should also be able to complete their trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for Jimmy Rollins. Los Angeles is reportedly sending Eflin and pitcher Tom Windle to Philadelphia for the veteran shortstop.
Also Thursday, the Padres acquired catcher Derek Norris from the Oakland Athletics, ostensibly as a replacement for Grandal.
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Kemp has had six stints on the disabled list since 2012, but none were related to his hips. He missed time twice in 2012 with a hamstring strain and strained the other hamstring in 2013. Irritation in his left shoulder and a sprained left ankle also held him out of the lineup in 2013. He missed the first few days of the 2014 season while recovering from surgery on that ankle.
Kemp played 150 games last season, his most since he was runner-up for the MVP award in 2011, and hit .287 with 25 home runs and 89 RBI. He turned 30 in September.
As part of the trade, the Dodgers will pay $32 million of the $107 million Kemp is owed overg the final five seasons of his contract.
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- Phil Watson
