MLB Trade Rumors: Philadelphia Phillies Interested in Matt Kemp

Could the Philadelphia Phillies be in on the bidding for Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp? Kemp is a player who could fill the void in the line-up from the right side of the plate if the right ingredients are there for the Phillies.

Phuture Phillies, a blog dedicated to covering the Phillies prospects, tweeted innocently enough that the Phillies were in on Matt Kemp, although there have been no confirmed reports from the Phillies beat reporters on the subject. It seems a bit premature to go with the idea at this stage, but there is no question that the Phillies could benefit from being able to add Kemp to the roster.

Kemp enters Tuesday batting .313, is second in the National League in home runs (24, Lance Berkman leads the league with 25) and third in the National League in runs batted in with 72 (one behind Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder). Shane Victorino, who was activated from the disabled list Tuesday, is the only Phillies batter hitting over .300 entering game two of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

Adding Kemp to the mix would certainly give the Phillies line-up a boost in the second half and likely in to the postseason.

More importantly, Kemp has been a durable player over the past few seasons. The Dodgers outfielder played all 162 games in 2010 and played in 159 games in 2009 and 155 in 2008.

If you are wondering about his postseason performances, the Phillies know just what he is capable of after facing Kemp in the 2008 and 2009 NLCS. Kemp’s NLCS numbers are much better than his NLDS numbers in those seasons, jumping from a batting average of .148 in the NLDS to .286 in the NLCS between the two seasons.

Kemp is owed under $4 million for the remainder of the season (presuming he has received half of his $6.95 million for the 2011 season), and the Phillies have already said on multiple occasions that they have maxed out their current payroll. The Dodgers are not likely to offer to pay for the remainder of his contract, considering the state of the organization right now.

The Phillies do have room in payroll ready to clear up after the 2011 season, which could allow some flexibility to bring Kemp on board now rather than try to lure him in during free agency. The contracts of Raul Ibanez, Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge could all come off the books this off-season and Jimmy Rollins could be on the move as well if the team decides not to bring him back.

Kemp to the Phillies still looks to be a bit of a stretch for now, but Amaro has pulled some tricks before so nothing can really be considered out of the question with the trade deadline creeping closer.

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