Jim Hill Chats With Matt Kemp's Agent Dave Stewart On Trade Rumors
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Dodgers have a potential problem going into the second half of the season. Matt Kemp has made it known he isn't happy with his current role in left field.
Not only that, Kemp told reporters Friday he wants to play every day in center field, whether it's with the Dodgers or somewhere else.
With that in mind, CBS2/KCAL Sports Director Jim Hill caught up with Kemp's agent, Dave Stewart, Sunday to discuss the situation.
"Obviously if there is an opportunity for Matt to stay in Los Angeles, that works perfectly fine,"Stewart told Hill. "If the Dodgers no longer want him playing in Los Angeles, that's fine with us too."
Kemp has never been the same since he sustained an ankle injury last July. He was limited to just 73 games last season, hitting 270/.328/.395.
Stewart went on to say Kemp will get back to form (like he was two years ago), when he was runner-up in the MVP voting.
"We both think at 29, soon to be 30, he has a lot of baseball left. We think this year is a recovery year from injuries and at some point he is going to return to the player he was two years ago," added Stewart. "With the Dodgers or with another team."
Manager Don Mattingly started playing Kemp in left in May -- following numerous fielding mishaps. Stewart says Kemp will still have an opportunity to return to center field – his "true position."
So far this season, Kemp is batting .269 with 21 doubles, eight home runs and 35 RBIs.
Kemp has five years left on a $160 million deal he signed in November 2011.
