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The Dodgers are finding ways to lock up stars any way they can. On top of their many on-field signings and acquisitions, they also hired Chris Archer and Nelson Cruz, neither of whom ever played for LA during their careers, to advisory roles this offseason. Archer will be a "special assistant" on the baseball operations side of things, while Cruz will have a more defined role working in the Dodgers' academy in the Dominican Republic.
Another former player — and, this time, a former Dodger — will be joining them. Per Bob Nightengale, the team has hired Matt Kemp, who spent 10 years in LA at the major league level after being selected by the team in the sixth round of the 2003 draft. Kemp took five trips to the postseason with the Dodgers; was a two-time All-Star, Gold Glover, and Silver Slugger; and became an all-around fan favorite during his tenure.
He was traded to the Padres at the end of the 2014 season after nine years with the Dodgers, then bounced around the league (including another one-year All-Star stint with the Dodgers in 2018) until he retired after 2020. He'll return to LA as an advisor this season.
Notebook: Scott Boras addresses free agency; Shohei Ohtani makes Dodgers debut Tuesday; Dave Roberts and Ron Washington’s roles in new Hall of Fame exhibit; trade/free agent talks.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 26, 2024
https://t.co/Fq9MujGNa2
Former Dodgers fan favorite Matt Kemp rejoins the organization as an advisor
Kemp got astoundingly close to an MVP award in 2011 after a season when he hit .324/.399/.586 with 39 home runs and 126 RBI, only missed one game on the entire year, and was just one home run away from a 40-40 season. He was ultimately edged out in MVP voting by Ryan Braun in one of the more poorly-aged decisions the BBWAA has made, an injustice that's still making Dodgers fans angry on the internet.
Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Kemp's new role has yet to be finalized or completely defined (subscription required), but hopefully he'll be close to the ground with Dodgers players, who could learn a lot from a player with 15 major league seasons under his belt. Hopefully, he'll also make an appearance at Matt Kemp bobblehead night on Aug. 11 to really receive his flowers in his return to the organization.