San Diego Padres Must Consider Trading Matt Kemp In 2016

The San Diego Padres put a lot of stock into competing in 2015, only to fall flat on their face. As a result, they spent the offseason trading away several key players as a way to jump-start their rebuilding project. However, a few viable trade chips remain on San Diego’s roster, and since it’s likely the Padres will be sellers at the trade deadline, it’s not too early to start thinking about which players they may look to trade away in 2016. At the top of that list should be outfielder Matt Kemp.

The Padres would have preferred to trade Kemp during the offseason, but that was difficult due to a deep free agent class among outfielders. However, they may have more success later this summer. Kemp will make $21.5 million per year through the 2019 season, which is a lofty price tag, but his age and track record will make it more appealing than most of the free agent outfielders on the market next winter. This should enhance his trade value this summer, as teams in need of an outfielder can look at him as both a short-term and long-term solution.

Not only would the Padres like to take Kemp off their payroll, but they’d also like to make room in their outfield for some of their top prospects. Outfielders Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe are both among San Diego’s top prospects and among the best in baseball. Both have started the 2016 season in Triple-A and could be ready for the majors by the end of the season, if not early in the 2017 season. Of course, to make room for both of them, particularly Renfroe, who is an ideal fit in right field, the Padres will have to trade Kemp before the start of the 2017 season.

The good news for the Padres is that Kemp is off to a fast start in 2016 after putting up modest numbers during his first year in San Diego. If Kemp can put himself on pace to hit 20-plus home runs and 30-plus doubles this year, his trade value will improve from what it was during the offseason. Such a scenario would make it imperative for the Padres to shop Kemp aggressively on the trade market this summer.