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5.5c-3.1-3.7-4.6-7.6-4.6-11.7c-0.1-4%2C1.3-7.5%2C4.3-10.7%0A%09%09%09c3-3.2%2C6.8-4.7%2C11.4-4.7c5.8%2C0%2C11.5%2C0.8%2C17.3%2C2.5V127z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22980.9%2C49.7%20955.6%2C120.2%20929.3%2C49.7%20906.7%2C49.7%20943.6%2C150.3%20924.4%2C199.8%20947.5%2C199.8%201004.4%2C49.7%20%09%09%0A%09%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Keeping Kemp
Here we go, the controversial choice! Like it or not, Matt Kemp could very well be on the roster to start the season. I have been very open in my support for this option because it does a couple of things for the team.
First, it gives Kemp the opportunity to contribute positively to the roster. He could be used in a platoon outfield role and could even serve as a veteran mentor that nobody believes he can be. People change. I have also made it clear that if Kemp does not change the attitude then the Dodgers can kiss him goodbye and move on.
Second, keeping Kemp until it’s not beneficial saves both prospects and money. They would not have to force a trade using elite young players and they would be preventing themselves from shelling out the money in a DFA situation. Again, providing he works well both on and off the field, keeping Kemp could save the Dodgers in a lot of areas. This to me seems like a reasonable choice as both of the other choices can still happen if they choose to keep him.
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The obvious cons to this are the risks that come with keeping Kemp and his potentially poisonous attitude. Should Kemp return to the clubhouse there runs the risk that he continues his rather selfish ways. Should this happen one could predict that Kemp would be DFA’d to prevent further damage.
There are benefits and risks to each of these three options. What must be understood though is this is all secondary to a goal that was already accomplished. The Dodgers have freed themselves of binding contracts and have done so by taking on a player that does not hurt the payroll. When one of these three options happen I firmly believe it will all work out for the better. It will be interesting to see which path the Dodgers choose.