If you thought the Los Angeles Dodgers were done after acquiring shortstop Jimmy Rollins and trading second baseman Dee Gordon, you were wrong. The team made three more transactions and added a number of players while shedding one big contract.
We'll start with the most recent. Outfielder Matt Kemp has been traded to the San Diego Padres, according to Kirk Kenney and Dennis Lin of U-T San Diego. In exchange for Kemp (and catcher Tim Federowicz), the Dodgers receive catcher Yasmani Grandal, starting pitcher Joe Wieland and minor league pitcher Zach Eflin. Los Angeles will also send $31 million to San Diego to help pay the remaining $107 million on Kemp's contract.
Kemp was linked to a number of teams this offseason, including the Mariners and Orioles, but the Padres seemingly stuck to pursuing him the longest because they were in desperate need of a power-hitting outfielder. The Dodgers' acquisition of Grandal will fill a crucial need at catcher and he'll likely be the starter in Opening Day.
Prior to the Kemp deal, Los Angeles signed starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a four-year, $48 million contract to bolster the back end of their starting rotation. After a poor stint during the first half of the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, during which he went 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 18 starts, McCarthy was traded to the New York Yankees. He compiled a 7-5 record with a 2.89 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 14 starts with New York and became a hot commodity on the free agent market after that success.
Los Angeles was also working on improving their middle infield. After acquiring Rollins from Philadelphia and trading Gordon to the Miami Marlins, the team had some internal options to fill the vacancy at second base, but instead opted to make another trade. Los Angeles Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick won't be moving too far as he'll join the Dodgers in exchange for prospect Andrew Heaney, who was acquired earlier in the day for Gordon. What's interesting is that Rollins and Kendrick both become free agents after the 2015 season, so it looks as if the Dodgers are waiting for the major league debuts of shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Darnell Sweeney.
Thursday marks the final day of the MLB Winter Meetings, so the Dodgers still have time to make more moves if needed.
UPDATE: According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Commissioner's Office has "not yet been notified" of the Kemp trade and approval is required because of the money exchange.
