The Cincinnati Reds released outfielder Matt Kemp on Saturday. Kemp was traded to Cincinnati last December in the trade that also sent Yasiel Puig, Kyle Farmer, and Alex Wood to the Reds.
After slashing .290/.338/.481 with 21 home runs, 85 runs batted in, a .348 weighted on-base average, 122 weighted runs created plus rating, and 1.6 wins above replacement (FanGraphs) with Los Angeles last season, Kemp has struggled mightily at the plate this year.
Over 62 plate appearances in 2019, Kemp’s hitting .200/.210/.493 with a homer, two doubles, five runs batted in, and 19 strikeouts.
The 34-year-old’s defensive output has taken a nosedive in recent years. Since 2014, Kemp has accounted for -84 defensive runs saved and owns a -53.4 ultimate zone rating in the outfield.
Kemp is in the final year of the eight-year, $160 million deal he signed with Los Angeles in 2011. He was set to make $21.5 million this season. Any team who takes a flyer on Kemp will only be on the hook for $555,000, the MLB league minimum.
