Matt Kemp

[Vottomatic]

The more and more I think about it, Kemp is the guy they need to go out and get. Kemp is still only 26 years old (turns 27 in September). He is just now coming into his best years, hopefully.

Also, this guy is an Eric Davis-type tool player, with both power and speed. He currently has 12 HR's, and hit 26 in '09 and 28 in '10. He is currently on pace to knock in over 100 rbi's, hit 30+ HR's, and possibly steal 30 to 40 bases (he has 13 right now). He is OPSing a career best .944 right now. All of his numbers are trending UPWARD. And he is batting .313 right now too.

Stick him in the 4-hole (yes, he is a righty so Dusty will be happy), and I think this lineup takes off, along with giving Votto protection. Kemp goes from a team in disarray to another team in disarray, uh, er.....I mean, in the thick of things .

He is making $6.5M this season and heads to arbitration after the season. Cordero won't be back after the season, and neither will Gomes. Hernandez probably won't be either. That's a savings of $16M-$17M.

Stubbs CF
Phillips 2B
Votto 1B
Kemp LF
Bruce RF
Rolen 3B
Hernanigan C
Janish SS
Pitcher

If this team was willing to acquire both Kemp and Reyes, this team wins the division. But they can't afford it.

[ezluke]

I can't imagine what it would take to get him, it would empty our farm system. Do we even have the pitchers in our system that could swing that trade? The ones who have seen time on the big league roster aren't going to be enough.

Trading for him now is definitely buying high, the time to do it was when we were begging for him at the deadline last year. Makes me wonder if we would't do it last year when he was cheaper, I doubt we get him now

[texasdave]

If this team was willing to acquire both Kemp and Reyes, this team wins the division. But they can't afford it.

Better go get Tim Lincecum and Josh Johnson just to be on the safe side.

[texasdave]

Kemp would be a great target. I think there is zero chance of that happening though.

[Krawhitham]

If this team was willing to acquire both Kemp and Reyes, this team wins the division. But they can't afford it.

If the get either one they will make the playoffs. They might make the playoffs without either, Berkman will breakdown and HGH may never get started, while the Brew crew will be sellers because they will not settle for just draft picks for losing Prince. But they need an ACE for the playoffs so if either Woods or Cueto do not become that needed ACE they need to get one before July 31st

[jwmann2]

Great player, but I love Stubbs and the rest of our outfield. They all came up together in Louisville, we have great chemistry, if you look at the pitching numbers, that is where we are hurting. We could not afford Kemp and personally the front office of our teams never seem to make the moves we want to make. Why? Because we don't know their finances.

[brm7675]

Both Walt and Dusty see no problem with our present OF, what leads you to believe they would make a deal to bring another OF in?

[Vottomatic]

Both Walt and Dusty see no problem with our present OF, what leads you to believe they would make a deal to bring another OF in?

Do Lewis, Gomes, or Heisey provide protection for Votto in the 4-spot?

1. No opposing pitcher fears any of them.
2. None of them have quality stats to put fear into opposing pitchers.
3. Dusty prefers a righty in the 4-spot between Votto and Bruce.

Kemp has an above .300 average to match both Votto and Phillips. But he has 12 HR's and 35 rbi which tops both Votto and Phillips, too.

There should be no question that this would be a HUGE UPGRADE in LF and at the CLEANUP SPOT IN THE BATTING ORDER.

It's a such a no-brainer, it takes no brain not to consider it.

I also understand that trades on paper don't always work in reality. But this move should definitely be considered a HUGE UPGRADE that protects Votto in the lineup, strengthens LF, adds speed, maintains the RH, LH, RH, LH part of the lineup, and allows Rolen to move down to 6th in the batting order.

Again.......it's a no-brainer UPGRADE.

[BAKER12]

What do you guys expect Walt and Dusty to say, "Our guys all suck and we are desperate for help in left field and short"

[davereds24]

Enough of these ridiculous trade ideas, this team won't have a 100mil payroll. Most of the savings from Coco and Ramon is going to increases for Votto, Bruce, and Cueto. You also have small increases for BA, BP, Chapman, Yonder, Hanigan. Then you have Bray and Masset who should get big bumps in ARB and guys like Bailey and Volquez who still have a chance at a big check.

[redsfan1995]

To get Kemp my guess of what the reds would have to give up is
Heisey or Stubbs
Mesarosco or Grandal
Mike Leake
Juan Francisco

[OGB]

To get Kemp my guess of what the reds would have to give up is
Heisey or Stubbs
Mesarosco or Grandal
Mike Leake
Juan Francisco

As long as it was heisey, id do that deal

[BAKER12]

Would not trade Stubbs, will regret big time

[Vottomatic]

To get Kemp my guess of what the reds would have to give up is
Heisey or Stubbs
Mesarosco or Grandal
Mike Leake
Juan Francisco

I think that's too much. Grandal is a #1 pick and doing nothing to dispute that with his performance.

Heisey is a backup outfielder who has shown glimpses, and comes cheap.

I hate trading Francisco because he is heir apparent to Rolen at 3B unless they think Frazier is a better option?

Heisey, Grandal, and either Francisco or Frazier is all I think it would take. No pitchers are being exchanged, so don't include them.

[Vottomatic]

Enough of these ridiculous trade ideas, this team won't have a 100mil payroll. Most of the savings from Coco and Ramon is going to increases for Votto, Bruce, and Cueto. You also have small increases for BA, BP, Chapman, Yonder, Hanigan. Then you have Bray and Masset who should get big bumps in ARB and guys like Bailey and Volquez who still have a chance at a big check.

Gone next year:
Cordero = $1M buyout - ($12.125M) = $11.125M savings
Hernandez = Free Agent - ($3M) = $3M savings
Renteria = Free Agent - ($2.1M) = $2.1M savings
Gomes = FA - ($1.75M) = $1.75M savings
Lewis = They will decline arbitration on him = $.9M savings
Burton, J. = injured, they will decline arbitration on him = $.75M savings

Total savings = $19.625M savings

High price players salaries next year:
Arroyo = $12M
Phillips = $11.5M
Rolen = $8.2M
Votto = $11.5M
Chapman = $4.7M
Cueto = $5.4M
Bruce = $5.1M
Masset = $3M (estimate he'll get in arbitration)
Volquez = $2M (estimate he'll get in arbitration since he's been sent down)
Alonso = $1.4M
Cairo = $1M
Bray = $1M (arbitration estimate)
Hanigan = $1.3M
Arredondo = $1M (arb. estimate)
Bailey = $3M (arb. estimate comparable to Cueto's salary this year)
Janish = $1.5M (arb. estimate)
15 other players are roughly $.5M = $7.5M
Total Player payroll = $81.1M (small increase from this year's $80.826M payroll

Add Kemp and you're probably close to $90M after his arbitration. So maybe they have to trade away some additional salary? It happens.

Salaries based on Cot's Baseball Contracts: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?...0E&output=html