Crazy thought — The Dodgers should consider Matt Kemp at first base

The Los Angeles Dodgers have an issue on their hands with a stacked outfield and only one open position. To solve that problem, Matt Kemp could add a position to his repertoire.

Matt Kemp, Andrew Toles, Alex Verdugo, Trayce Thompson, Joc Pederson. These five guys all have their names in the hat to earn the starting left field job for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Let’s not forget about Enrique Hernandez, who will likely be the Dodgers Opening Day left fielder to face Madison Bumgarner.

This issue can be solved with a few moves by the Dodgers. Pederson or Thompson (or both) could be optioned to the minors. That leaves Toles, Verdugo and Kemp; with Verdugo perhaps serving as a backup center fielder.

The problem for LA, though, is the limitations of a 25 man roster. A five-man bench is the farthest the Dodgers will stretch their positioned players. This gives Hernandez, Chase Utley, Austin Barnes/Yasmani Grandal, Alex Verdugo and Matt Kemp a spot on the bench. Again, this is the most the Dodgers would likely stretch the roster out.

And that still leaves a battle between Kemp, Thompson and Pederson. Kemp has found a new life in Spring Training. Kemp is hitting .364 with four home runs and seven RBIs in 35 plate appearances. It is a tiny sample size, but Kemp is slowly winning over the hearts of Dodger fans.

However, Thompson is also excelling this spring. Thompson is hitting .346 in 27 plate appearances. The power numbers are not quite there, but Thompson has a history in left field with the Dodgers.

Plus, Matt Kemp was never even supposed to be a Dodger, right? He is still going to be traded before the season, right? Sure, his hitting is good, but his defense is woeful and his contract even worse. Who cares if Trayce Thompson is statistically as bad as Kemp in the field, Kemp is out the door, right?

Wrong.

Kemp has earned his spot on the roster. And to overcome the defensive shortcomings, the Dodgers should consider a quirky transition: teach Matt Kemp how to play first base.

Logistically speaking, first base is the easiest position to play and learn on the field. While you still need experience and to be a good fielder at first, a bad fielder at first is far less harmful than a bad left fielder. Heck, shortstop turned third baseman turned left fielder Hanley Ramirez learned to play first for the Boston Red Sox. Ironically, his best fielding (which was still bad) came at first base.

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Kemp would help the Dodgers in giving Cody Bellinger cushion at first base with Adrian Gonzalez out of the picture. Logan Forsythe and Utley can both play first, but the Dodgers would be much better off with Kemp’s bat in the lineup over Utley.

Plus, this does not hurt Kemp’s playing time in left field. A corner outfield/first base combo is perhaps the most common in baseball; Kemp could be a platoon left fielder and an emergency first baseman. It makes sense. It makes the most out of his roster spot.

Because say what you want about his fielding, Kemp is still an above average MLB hitter. With his refined look and return to the Dodgers, Kemp may only get better. Something that is often overlooked is that Kemp did not play on a contender after leaving LA. It is much easier to get out of bed and get those extra reps in with a World Series on the line.

It may be a terrible inference and for that I am guilty, but playing for a contender will help Kemp’s production. There will be better bats around him, he will have that extra drive and I promise he will shock the world. He may not be worth that $23 million, but he is worth a roster spot.

Next: Dodgers must take their time with Walker Buehler

Teach Matt Kemp how to play first base. Fielding a ground ball is not the hardest thing in the world. After all, he is a professional baseball player. Chances are in his 25+ years playing the game he has played first base. Let’s get weird.

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