Los Angeles Dodgers: Trade or keep on potential trade chips this winter

4. Matt Kemp: Trade

Matt Kemp‘s homecoming to the Los Angeles Dodgers was the most prominent story in the MLB over the first half of the season. In fact, at the All-Star Break, Kemp was even considered an MVP candidate and was a front-runner in some people’s eyes.

His story was incredible, as was his month of May, in which he hit .361 with a .935 OPS. Although he eventually faded as the season went on, he was still a crucial part in the Dodgers making the World Series, had two huge hits off of Archie Bradley and even hit a home run in his first ever World Series plate appearance.

While all of that is a feel-good story and I love Matt Kemp as much as the next guy, it would be in the Dodgers best interest to let him go this winter.

Kemp has a $18.5 million cap hit on the Dodgers in the last year of his deal. The Dodgers, who want to stay under the luxury tax threshold and want to add stars such as Bryce Harper, are going to need to free up money to make that happen.

Heck, the team might just forget about the luxury tax and load up this year, knowing that the team is going to have a lot of money off the books next year.

However, the team still has Alex Verdugo potentially joining the everyday roster and the potential addition of Bryce Harper. With so much outfield depth, including Cody Bellinger, Matt Kemp might not get any playing time because of his defense.