The San Diego Padres have tried to trade outfielder Matt Kemp this offseason, according to Robert Murray of Baseball Essential. The Oakland Athletics, according to Murray, were targeted, but are not yet willing to pull the trigger on a deal for Kemp.
The 31-year-old is set to earn $21.5 million for the next three seasons. He signed an eight-year, $160 million deal in 2012, which slates him to be a free agent during the winter before the 2020 season. According to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune, the Padres have asked about shortstops when shopping the outfielder, but now that the team has Alexei Ramirez, look for the Padres to target prospects. San Diego could send Kemp for prospects or increase the package to get both prospects and big league ready players if they add a pitcher like Tyson Ross to the mix.
The Athletics have money to spend and have not done much of it this winter. It is possible that Oakland, led by general manager David Forst, could give up prospects to try and rebuild the team around Kemp. Nevertheless, the Padres will have to eat at least some of the salary of Kemp to make a deal work with Oakland.
Kemp, a sixth round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2003 MLB Draft out of Midwest City High School made his debut against the Washington Nationals on May 28, 2006 and went 1-for-4 from the dish. Since then, Kemp has played nine years in Los Angeles and one-year in San Diego, which he has hit .289/.345/.489 with 205 home runs and 748 RBI.
The best season for Kemp was in 2011. The outfielder hit .324/.399/.586 with an outstanding total of 39 home runs and 126 RBI across 161 games and a 2011 National League All-Star appearance. Last season, Kemp hit .265 with 23 homers and 100 RBI in 154 games played.