Trading For Matt Kemp Should Be Seattle Mariners’ Top Offseason Priority
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Shown by their signing of Robinson Cano last offseason, the Seattle Mariners are ready to spend in order to become competitive. That worked for most of last season as they didn’t fall out of the playoff race until the final days of the season. However, they need an outfield power bat from the right side of the plate, and their best bet to add one may come through a trade.
They have been linked to players like Justin Upton and Nelson Cruz (via free agency), but the player who may make the most sense for them financially and logistically is Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Matt Kemp. Since the Dodgers are trying to dump payroll out of their outfield, the Mariners could really benefit.
Make no mistake — if they want to get Kemp, they’re probably going to have to give up top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker. However, the Dodgers have said that if they get a large return for any of their outfielders, they’ll be more than willing to eat a large portion of their deals. For the Mariners, that could mean paying a bargain price for Kemp, who was one of the hottest hitters in baseball in the second half of the season.
Even though he’s never quite returned to that form, Kemp did at one point show that he had the skill of an MVP candidate. Certainly, he has most of the tools you look for in an outfielder. He’s a power hitter who will drive in runs, but he can also steal plenty of bases.
For the Mariners, who are looking to take the next step in their progression, it may be worth shipping off their top young pitcher in order to compete in the AL West immediately and over the next several seasons.
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