The Dodgers continue to throw gasoline on the Winter Meetings hot stove.
This time, LA has sent two-time all-star Matt Kemp along with catcher Tim Federowicz to the San Diego Padres in exchange for catcher Yasmani Grandal, RHP Joe Wieland, and a third player who is believed to be RHP Zach Eflin, this according to a report from Dennis Lin and Kirk Kenney of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Dodgers will also send $30 million to San Diego to assist in covering the $107 million remaining on Kemp’s contract through 2019.
The deal is the fourth trade in an eventful 24 hours for the Dodgers. The day started with a seven-player swap that sent Dee Gordon and Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas and a player to be named later to Miami for a slew of prospects headlined by Andrew Heaney, who was subsequently dealt to the Angels for second baseman Howie Kendrick later that night. The Dodgers started their middle-infield makeover yesterday by trading for Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins. That deal is still pending and potentially could include some of the prospects included in the Marlins deal.
On the free agent market, the Dodgers also signed starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a four-year deal valued at $48 million.
A nutty day in LA has given the Dodgers a brand-new infield in Rollins and Kendrick following the departure of Hanley Ramirez–who signed with Boston last month–as well as a young catcher in Grandal to pair with A.J. Ellis. The Padres get the big-name bat they’ve longed for in Kemp, at a semi-reasonable cost. The Angels pick up a stud left-handed pitching prospect with Heaney, the Marlins get some valuable pieces in Gordon and Haren and we will see what the Phillies will bring in once the deal becomes official.
