Does a Matt Kemp trade Signify a Rebuilding Process?

So are the Dodgers ever going to do anything this hot stove season? As the Winter Meetings begin this week, the Dodgers have actively been shopping outfielder Matt Kemp. Otherwise they haven’t done much of anything else.

The new front office has acquired Joel Peralta, and Adam Liberatore from Tampa Bay. They acquired minor league pitcher Mike Bolsinger, and reclamation project Juan Nicasio. Then they acquired catcher Ryan Lavarnway, while designating Drew Butera for assignment. The Dodgers acquired outfielder Chris Heisey for nothing, and let Hanley Ramirez walk to the Red Sox via free agency.

That’s been the Dodger’s offseason thus far. Needless to say it’s been a huge bust. Much like the Dodger’s 2014 season. One huge disappointing overhyped bust. The new front office’s inability to spend any money at all has hampered the Dodger’s efforts to improve the roster.

The Dodgers have been in talks with the San Diego Padres about a trade for Matt Kemp. We know that catcher Yasmani Grandal has been in discussions, plus one additional player. Ken Rosenthal calls the Padre’s efforts to land Kemp as “focused interest”.

That basically means the Padres really want him. Which makes sense for them. The Padres haven’t been relevant in years. Acquiring a Matt Kemp would make them instantly better offensively. That’s what the Padres need right now. They need right handed power in their lineup.

Other trade talks with Seattle fell through because the Mariners felt as though the Dodgers were asking too much. The Dodgers wanted one or two of the Mariner’s top prospects. Talks also fell through with Baltimore as well. It seems though that if the Dodgers trade Kemp, then he will probably end up in San Diego, if anywhere.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

But if the Dodgers do trade Kemp, does that signify a rebuilding year? Stacie seems to think that 2015 will be a rebuilding year anyways, weather Kemp is traded or not. Losing Hanley is one thing, but to lose Hanley and Kemp’s bat in the lineup would seem irresponsible.

If Kemp is moved, the Dodgers would be losing a lot of power. Do they have a plan to replace Kemp’s production if they move him? Because just Yasmani Grandal’s bat alone is not enough to replace Kemp’s offense.

Obviously the Dodgers have too many outfielders again. They’re going to have to trade somebody. But Carl Crawford, and Andre Ethier have no real value, and they’re huge bloated contracts make it hard to move them. Kemp is the only one with any actual value. Kemp does have five years and 107 million dollars remaining on his contract. Can the Padres afford this?

The Dodger’s new front office has already shown that they are unwilling to spend any kind of money to improve the active roster.

Being frugal is one thing, but trading Kemp to a division rival would show Dodger fans that they are indeed just dumping players. And that 2015 will probably be a rebuilding year, in which the Dodgers do not finish in first place.

Does a Matt Kemp trade signify a rebuilding process? More on this later.