Los Angeles Dodgers Shopping Outfielders Is Good News for the Mariners

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Kemp:

Of these three outfielders, Matt Kemp would come with the highest price tag.

He is likely most appealing to the Mariners as well, with his right-handed power bat. Kemp struggled through injuries in 2012 and 2013, but had a bounce back season of sorts in 2014.

He played in 150 games with 541 at-bats, clubbing .287/.346/.506 with 25 home runs, 89 RBI, and 38 doubles. He put in 40+ games at each of the outfield spots, with 6 games at DH.

His power right-hand bat would be devastating sandwiched between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager in the lineup. He’s owed $21 and $21.5 million through 2019, so the Mariners would certainly need to trade enough to get him down into the $12-16 million per year range.

I think trading Taijuan Walker, Brad Miller, and a Yoervis Medina or Danny Farquhar would get the deal done with enough salary relief for the M’s. If Kemp stayed healthy, he would legitimize the lineup and provide stability in the outfield.

And even to be cautious, the M’s could give him a day or two at DH each week. His cost would be the steepest, but his ceiling would be the highest.

What do you think? Are the Mariners willing to and capable of pulling the trigger to get one of these proven outfielders?