The Padres have inquired on the Dodgers' Matt Kemp, but they're not the only ones.
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Matt Kemp's name has come up in discussions between the Dodgers and Padres, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
He details that nothing is close, and the talks weren't all that recent as the Padres continue to look at multiple scenarios, but it's possible they may zero in on Kemp in the wake of one of those options (Yasmany Tomas) signing with division rival Arizona. While intra-divisional trades involving a star of Kemp's caliber are fairly rare, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman noted that it makes sense for the two teams to discuss Kemp given that the man who drafted him for LA, Logan White, is now an executive with San Diego. Further complicating any deal between the two NL West clubs, though, is that Boston's signing of Hanley Ramirez leaves Kemp and Puig as the only sources of right-handed power in the Dodgers lineup.
The Padres aren't the only West Coast team inquiring about Kemp, as Heyman also reported that the Marinersare interested in Kemp's right-handed power. While the M's are dead-set on balancing their lineup, it's unclear what their priority is among the five sluggers they've focused on: Kemp, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis, Nelson Cruz and Yoenis Cespedes. Kemp is the priciest of the five when it comes to contract status, as he'll earn $107 million over the next five years. Upton and Cespedes each have one year remaining on their contracts, earning $14.5 million and $10.5 million respectively. Cruz is a free agent, and is requesting a five-year deal, and would also cost Seattle its first-round pick if it signs him. Gattis has four years of team-control remaining, and is set to earn the major league minimum.