GLENDALE, Ariz. — Yep, he’s still here.
Three months after he was acquired in a trade that was more accounting trick than baseball move, over one month after he reported to spring training with an uncertain future, Matt Kemp is still back in blue – and looking more and more like a part of the Dodgers’ Opening Day lineup and their primary left fielder.
“To his credit, he’s showing what’s made him a very good player for a long time,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Kemp, who is batting .333 (12 for 36) with four home runs this spring. “When you make the trade and you look at the seasons guys had last year who we have coming back, we were already a very good team without Matt. But to have a former All-Star in as good a shape as he’s been in years and add him to the mix, it only increases the level of competition to play for everyone around him. That’s a good thing. That’s a good thing for all of us.”
With almost two weeks left before the start of the regular season, Roberts emphasized that the Dodgers’ left-field plans are hardly set in stone. There is ongoing “conversation and debate,” he said.
There has been much to talk about. Six players have had a chance to make their case for a part in the Dodgers’ left-field plans. Alex Verdugo has hit well but another year of Triple-A seasoning seems to be in his future. Joc Pederson has failed to build on his excellent World Series performance. Trayce Thompson could find himself on the waiver wire before Opening Day. Kike’ Hernandez has shown himself to be deserving of regular playing time – but that will likely come in his “super-utility” role again.
That leaves Kemp and Andrew Toles, who has proven to be healthy after surgery for a torn ACL in his right knee last May. In the right-handed veteran and the left-handed Toles (12 for 36 this spring), the Dodgers would seem to have the makings of a platoon.
“He’s definitely not nor has he ever been a platoon guy,” Roberts said of Kemp. “It’s more of the right situation and using him and the other guys on our club the right way. You look at that position, call it 650 plate appearances. Now it’s our job to kind of figure out how we divvy those up. With Matt, certainly platoon doesn’t even come into play.”
Kemp has hit left-handers better than right-handers throughout his career – a .319 batting average, .921 OPS and one home run every 22.4 plate appearances against lefties, .274 and .794 with one home run every 25 plate appearances against righties. But he reversed that last year, hitting righties (.808 OPS, 16 home runs) much better than lefties (.684 and three home runs).
Roberts calls Toles “a plus-defender” in left field with the ability to play the other two outfield spots also. Kemp’s defense has been adequate this spring but it still calls out for a time-share arrangement if not a full-on platoon partner.
“To be quite honest, he surprised me with the way he came in shape,” Roberts said of Kemp, who says he has shed 40 pounds since last season. “I had him in San Diego (in 2015). I saw him last year. And to see the complete contrast in body composition? I’m surprised, yeah. Pleasantly surprised and excited for him.
“When we acquired him we didn’t know what kind of shape he was in. We went on what he looked like last year and coming off an injury. The way he came in initially made a statement in itself. So we’re not going to make any decisions right now. We still have time for that. Obviously, he’s getting a good look and he and some other guys are playing really well.”
BUEHLER PLAN
The Dodgers have made it clear they are “slow-playing” top prospect Walker Buehler this spring with an eye toward conserving his innings – a natural resource to be tapped into deeper in the season. His fastball hasn’t gotten the memo. He regularly hit 97-98 mph and touched 99 twice during his two innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
Buehler retired six of the seven batters he faced, struck out two, walked one and threw a wild pitch in his first Cactus League appearance this spring. What’s next, when or where his season will start, Buehler says he doesn’t know. The Dodgers are handling everything with him on a need-to-know basis and apparently Buehler doesn’t need to know much.
“I’ve told everybody that’s above my pay grade,” he said Friday. “I’m not too worried about it. I’m 23 years old and I feel good with where I’m at and what I’m trying to accomplish. Hopefully it all works out.
“The biggest thing is this team winning. If I’m part of that, great. If not then we’ve got some good guys out there.”
