MLB Winter Meetings: Five Bold Predictions

October 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp (27) reacts after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

1- The Los Angeles Dodgers Will Not Trade Matt Kemp

Despite having several teams allegedly inquiring and making offers for the slugger’s services, my gut feeling is that the Dodgers won’t risk that big of a drop in their offense by losing Kemp after already losing Hanley Ramirez to free agency.

With no Kemp-type bat available on the free agent market to grab after trading him, I feel like the Dodgers will end up moving someone like Scott Van Slyke to free up the logjam in the outfield.

Then, in July near the trade deadline, if the Dodgers are seemingly out of the playoff chase, then they would be more likely to deal Kemp.

So what does this mean for Seattle? It means that they aren’t going to get Kemp and his monster contract. It means that they won’t have to worry about which Kemp they were going to get – the injury prone one or the 2nd half of 2014 one.

It also means – for the time being – that Seattle keeps their young talented prospects (Taijuan Walker, Roenis Elias, James Paxton, D.J. Peterson) and that will make many fans happy.