Kuzul

After looking up at the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in the NL West in 2014, the San Diego Padres are giving off strong signals that they mean to level the playing field this winter.

Question is: Is Matt Kemp the right man for the job?

It sounds like the Padres would like him to be. There’s been a steady stream of rumors linking them to Kemp, and the latest from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is that the two sides are still talking:

Mind you, Rosenthal went on to add that the Dodgers are discussing the 30-year-old outfielder with other teams as well. The Padres do not have their undivided attention, nor are they the front-runners.

Either way, the notion that the Dodgers would be willing to trade Kemp within the division might sound…well, off. After all, superstar players are rarely traded to division rivals.

But this is a rare case where you can see where the Dodgers are coming from. Yasmani Grandal would be a needed upgrade at catcher, and moving Kemp would clear a hefty chunk of payroll space even if L.A. was to eat some of the $107 million he’s owed over the next five years.

Also, it’s safe to guess that the two-time defending NL West champs don’t view the Padres, who won just 77 games in 2014, as a threat even if they do add Kemp. New San Diego general manager A.J. Preller, however, would seem to be more optimistic.

Here’s ESPN’s Buster Olney with the team’s perspective on this offseason:

Goodness knows the Padres do need offense. While their pitching was steady enough to finish fifth in the majors in ERA last year, their offense ranked dead last with 535 runs and a .634 OPS. After a season with that offense, yeah, suffice it to say that Kemp has a sort of “knight in shining armor” look about him.

Kemp’s a lifetime .292 hitter who’s coming off a season that saw him hit .287 with an .852 OPS and 25 home runs. He was especially lethal after the All-Star break, OPS’ing .971 with 17 dingers.

That was a vintage Kemp performance that Dodgers assistant hitting coach John Valentin credited to a mechanical adjustment that cleared up some major vulnerabilities.

“He actually has straightened his stance,” Valentin told Pedro Moura of the Orange County Register. “It used to be locked. What that created was a difficulty to have the freedom to stay through the baseball. This offers a clear path to hit balls in and away.”

Looking ahead, the Steamer projections at FanGraphs have Kemp pegged for an .808 OPS and 22 homers in 2015. After the season he just had, I’ll wager those figures are a little conservative. He should have another .850-ish OPS and 25 homers in him. Maybe at the least.

So let there be no doubt about it. If the question is whether Kemp has a bat that can help the Padres offense, the answer is yes. However, that’s not the question we’re asking here. We’re asking whether Kemp’s the man for the job of making San Diego a contender.

And that’s frankly where it’s harder to be optimistic.

One issue has to do with the degree to which Kemp would be upgrading the Padres offense. It would be one thing if he had the look of a missing puzzle piece, but he doesn’t.

San Diego’s offense wasn’t just the worst in the majors last year; it was the worst in the majors by a lot, as the team scored 38 fewer runs and OPS’d 37 points lower than anyone else. You’d have to be Ted Williams to qualify as a missing puzzle piece for this offense, and the Splendid Splinter Kemp is not.

Another issue has to do with how, as good as Kemp’s bat is, the rest of the total package now leaves much to be desired. He’s not the strong all-around player he once was, which is reflected in how he only managed a 1.8 WAR in 2014 (by FanGraphs‘ reckoning) even despite his strong offensive numbers.

For those who prefer such things, here’s a more practical take on Kemp these days from FanGraphs‘ Mike Petriello:

It’s important to remember Kemp probably is never going to be the superstar the Dodgers envisioned when he signed his mega deal. The player who signed that contract was an iron man with exceptional speed, enough to steal 40 bases and at least fake it in center. The player he now is will always have to deal with questions about his durability, and he’s limited to trying to simply be competent in a corner outfield spot…

In so many words: While Kemp’s bat would undeniably be a welcome addition to the Padres lineup, overall he wouldn’t upgrade the team that much. As such, just Kemp wouldn’t be good enough. For the Padres to contend in 2015, they’ll need to acquire him and additional upgrades.

That, unfortunately, would be tricky.

San Diego would presumably only have so much money to spend after taking on a chunk of Kemp’s remaining contract, and the selection of bats on the open market would be slim to boot. Thanks to the early run on hitters, there are only a couple of quality bats left on the market. 

The Padres would have better luck on the trade market, but likely not without chipping away at the one strength they do have: pitching.

They could get a solid bat for Andrew Cashner or Ian Kennedy, but they’d have to trade Tyson Ross to get a true impact bat. Since he’s a legit top-of-the-rotation starter, they’d be taking a step forward and a step back at the same time. 

A subsequent free-agent signing could fix that, but the Padres would be priced out of the Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields markets. There are options outside of those three, but there’s no Ross.

All told, let’s put it like this: Trading for Kemp could bump the Padres up from a 77-win team to an 80- or 81-win club, but not all the way to a 90-win team. They’d need more assets to go the rest of the way, and they wouldn’t be in an ideal position to add the kinds of players they’d need.

From here, we can also get into how the Padres’ trading for Kemp might actually help the enemy.

If Grandal were to be involved in the trade, the Dodgers wouldn’t be getting a mere throw-in. He was one of the only above-average hitters the Padres had in 2014, and Baseball Prospectus rated him as a top-15 strike framer. Also, the Dodgers would have some freed-up funds to pursue other upgrades.

Lastly, we can get into how Kemp’s not a long-term star at this stage of his career. There’s a decent chance his age-30 season in 2015 could be his last great campaign. If the Padres were to waste it, they could quickly find themselves regretting the thought process that led them to Kemp in the first place.

The Padres’ interest in Kemp is understandable. They’re a team in need of an impact player, and that need goes beyond a mere desire to win ballgames. Maybe more so than any other fanbase, San Diego fans need something to rally around.

But there’s the flashy way to try to become a contender, and there’s the smart way. Trading for Kemp would be the former at a time when the Padres should be attempting the latter.

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference unless otherwise noted/linked.  

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

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Justin Upton and Matt Kemp should probably keep their phones nearby. 

The outfielders have been two of the most talked-about players in MLB trade rumors this offseason. One baseball executive simply told Joel Sherman of the New York Post: “Justin Upton will be moved.” As for Kemp, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes that “there is serious interest” in the 30-year-old. 

One attribute that both players have in common is the ability to hit for power—and a lot of it. In 2014, Upton clubbed 29 home runs, while Kemp posted a .606 slugging percentage in the second half of the season. With so few impact bats to be had on the free-agent and trade markets, that kind of pop is extremely valuable. 

While their offensive skill sets are similar, their contract situations couldn’t be more different. The 27-year-old Upton will make $14.5 million next season and is set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign. Meanwhile, Kemp is still owed $107 million through 2019. 

What follows is a rundown of the best potential packages and landing spots for the All-Star outfielders. The list begins with the Settle Mariners because the American League West club has been linked to both bats, per Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports. 

Seattle Mariners

The Targets: Upton and Kemp

It makes a lot of sense that the Mariners would be calling about both of these outfielders. 

Last year, the M’s had the lowest OPS in the AL, and the team was especially weak from the right side of the plate. As for Upton, the Atlanta Braves are looking to land a major haul. Sherman writes that the team is seeking a “higher return” than the Jason Heyward deal. 

In that four-player swap, Atlanta received right-hander Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins in exchange for Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden.

Seattle definitely has some talented young arms, with Taijuan Walker and James Paxton right at the top of the list. Parting with either of those starters would be a big risk, as the Mariners would only be guaranteed to have Upton under team control for one season. 

Kemp is under contract for five seasons, but his price tag is significantly higher as a result. Walker and Paxton would once again be logical names to begin the conversation with, but position players would have to be discussed, as well. 

With Hanley Ramirez joining the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the market for a new shortstop. Seattle has a couple of players who the Dodgers could target in Chris Taylor and Brad Miller. Last year in Triple-A, Taylor checked in with a .328 average and an .894 OPS. 

Houston Astros

The Target: Upton

According to Sherman, the Houston Astros are one of the teams that have “inquired” about Upton. 

Houston certainly has the prospects to make such a deal happen. Carlos Correa headlines the farm system, but the shortstop isn’t going anywhere. MLB.com tabbed the 20-year-old as the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball. Aside from Correa, the Astros still have some prominent names to offer up.  

As for pitching prospects, the Astros have Mark Appel, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft. Right-handers Mike Foltynewicz and Lance McCullers are two other pitchers who could be part of a potential deal. 

Houston also has some position players who are high-profile trade chips. Outfielder Domingo Santana ranks as the No. 50 prospect on MLB.com’s top 100. Plus, third baseman Colin Moran was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 draft. 

If Houston were to part with any of those names, the team would have to feel remarkably confident that it would be able to ink Upton to a contract extension. 

San Diego Padres

The Target: Kemp

The Dodgers and the San Diego Padres have discussed a possible trade involving Kemp, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. 

Rosenthal tweets that the Padres have the pieces to help the Dodgers upgrade either their pitching staff or the catcher’s position. San Diego has the top catching prospect in baseball in Austin Hedges. MLB.com dubs Hedges the “best defensive catcher” in the minors and ranks him as the No. 22 prospect on the top-100 list. 

The NL West team also has a number of starting pitchers who could interest the Dodgers. According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, Ian Kennedy is the most available arm. Brock adds that the Padres would be “reluctant” to part with Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross. 

After Kemp posted a .971 OPS in the second half of 2014, San Diego would have to put together a highly compelling offer to pry Kemp away from its northern neighbor. 

Texas Rangers

The Target: Upton

The Texas Rangers have checked in on the availability of Upton, as Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com reports. When it comes to potential trade pieces, the Texas Rangers are loaded at the middle infield spots, as general manager Jon Daniels explained, via Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. 

“It’s not a secret that we have depth there,” Daniels said. “It’s an area of strength for us. We’ve talked about the possibility for a while. We just have to decide if now is the time to make a move there.”

Of course, the Braves already have a Gold Glover at shortstop in Andrelton Simmons. As a result, adding another middle infielder isn’t exactly a top priority for the club. However, the Rangers do have one infield prospect who would draw the interest of every team in baseball.

Last season, third baseman Joey Gallo connected on 42 home runs while splitting the year between High-A and Double-A. According to Rosenthal, the 21-year-old likely wouldn’t be “in play” in trade talks. 

Note: All stats courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com. 

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck. 

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The Seattle Mariners need a cleanup hitter. What position that hitter plays remains to be seen. The club was reportedly interested in shortstop Hanley Ramirez, but it lost out on the former Dodger when he signed with the Red Sox.

With Pablo Sandoval and Yasmany Tomas also off the board, the number of chairs is dwindling. The music isn’t close to ending, but the M’s list of potential targets is shrinking.

Seattle’s need for a middle-of-the-order bat happily coincides with the team’s need for a corner outfielder. The corner outfield spots are generally regarded as traditional power positions (and luckily for the M’s there are numerous possibilities).

Matt Kemp’s name has been trade-rumor fodder for months—if not the last year—due to a hefty contract, a slight decline in play and an overcrowded Dodger outfield.

Another trade option is Atlanta outfielder Justin Upton. The former Diamondback reportedly removed the M’s from his no-trade list, and Atlanta could be open to trading its star outfielder after sending Jason Heyward to St. Louis.

Seattle previously attempted to acquire Upton while he was in Arizona, but the outfielder vetoed a deal that would have involved Taijuan Walker and Nick Franklin (among others), per Larry Stone of The Seattle Times.

Like Kemp, Boston outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is part of an overcrowded outfield and could conceivably be dealt.

Should one of those three (or another trade target of their ilk) be acquired, he won’t come cheap. Each one of the three previously mentioned players comes from a team with specific needs.

Matt Kemp

Any trade conversation between the M’s and Dodgers must start with Los Angeles eating a majority of Kemp’s salary. While still a productive player, Kemp is not the player he was in 2011 when he finished runner-up in the MVP voting. The outfielder hit a good-but-not-great .287 last season.

As mentioned, the Dodgers lost Hanley Ramirez to Boston and thus are without a shortstop. The Mariners have two of these in youngsters Brad Miller and Chris Taylor. It’s unclear if Los Angeles would be interested in either. Surely it has a need at the position, but the two have only played in a combined 246 games. That kind of experience at a crucial position isn’t ideal for a team with major championship aspirations.

Los Angeles’ other glaring need is that of a starting pitcher. Former Colorado swing-man Juan Nicasio is slated to be the fifth starter in a rotation that features, among others, Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Nicasio posted a 5.38 ERA in 33 appearances (14 of which were starts) for Colorado in 2014. His career ERA is a smidgen smaller at 5.03.

Unless Nicasio posts improved numbers, the team will need better quality and pitching.

Seattle has plenty of intriguing prospects in its system, such as Tyler Pike and Danny Hultzen. However, with the Dodgers in need of pitching now, Roenis Elias could be in play. The rookie starter made the jump to the majors in 2014 and put up 10 wins and a 3.85 in 29 starts.

A package of Miller and Elias for Kemp and a lower-level prospect could get the deal done. The Dodgers will have to eat a good portion of Kemp’s salary in the swap, but the acquisition of two young players like Miller and Elias would probably mean the inclusion of a minor prospect on Los Angles’ part to even things out.

Justin Upton

While similar in terms of what they could provide the Mariners with, Upton and Kemp are very different in other areas—mainly age and salary. Upton is 27 to Kemp’s 30. In addition, Upton’s contract expires after 2015, while Kemp’s runs through 2019.

Judging by Upton’s comparatively favorable numbers—and the high price the Cardinals paid to acquire Jason Heyward—it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if the M’s had to pay a high price for Upton.

While not the same player he was when the M’s attempted to acquire him previously, Upton is still a player who can provide 30 home runs, 100 runs driven in and passable defense in the outfield.

Upton vetoed a previous deal to Seattle in which the Mariners would have parted with Nick Franklin, Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor and one of Taijuan Walker, James Paxton or Danny Hultzen.

The Mariners won’t have to give up nearly as much to acquire Upton this time around, but they’ll likely have to part with something of value.

The Braves, like the Dodgers, could use starting pitching. Even after acquiring Shelby Miller in the Heyward swap, the team could use extra starters. Aaron Harang and Ervin Santana could leave in free agency (and Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy are recovering from Tommy John surgery).

To acquire Upton, one of either James Paxton or Taijuan Walker is likely forfeit. Losing either of the two would hurt, but given the strength of the M’s pitching and dire need of a cleanup hitter, they could weather the loss.

Atlanta will also be in the market for a new outfielder if the team deals Upton, especially after dealing fellow outfielder Heyward for two pitchers. The M’s could offer Dustin Ackley or Michael Saunders in return. Saunders is rumored to be on the trade block.

In addition, Brad Miller could be used as additional trade bait. Atlanta could play him at second—until top prospect Jose Peraza is ready—and then slide Miller to third base long-term to take over for the aging Chris Johnson.

Upton will hit free agency after 2015, but the fact that he took the Mariners off of his trade list (which was the catching point in the 2013 deal not coming to fruition) suggests he’d be willing to play for the team. Should the M’s make the playoffs and/or make a deep run in 2015, Upton may be more inclined to stay than bolt when his contract expires.

Yoenis Cespedes

Thanks to a bevy of roster moves, Cespedes finds himself in an overcrowded Red Sox outfield that also features Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Brock Holt, Daniel Nava, Allen Craig and Shane Victorino.

The same quality depth cannot be found in the Red Sox’s rotation. Clay Buchholz is the veteran presence and ace. Meanwhile, spots two through five will be filled by some combination of Joe Kelly, Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo and Brandon Workman.

Because of this, one of Seattle’s starting pitchers will surely be involved in any potential trade. A straight swap of Walker or Paxton for Cespedes is plausible, but Cespedes has his warts and, like Upton, is a free agent after 2015.

Cespedes can hit for power—that much is certain—but he is far less of a complete player than someone like Upton or even Kemp. In any deal, Seattle’s brass has to accept the fact that Cespedes has warts—Cespedes’ OPS in 2014 was .751, just above Logan Morrison’s .735 number.

The former Athletics slugger’s numbers don’t suggest he is a player who commands a massive return, but given Boston’s depth in the outfield and its need of starting pitching, the Red Sox won’t just give him away. They’ll want the max return for their power-hitting outfielder.

He may not be the most hand-in-glove fit for the M’s, but Cespedes would cost one of Walker, Paxton or Hisashi Iwakuma. Losing any of the three would be a massive loss for Seattle, but that would likely be the cost of trading.

Whether it is Matt Kemp, Justin Upton or Yoenis Cespedes, the Mariners will be losing some valuable assets via trade. It’s the sad reality of the situation, but another reality is that if the M’s want to make a run in the playoffs in 2015, they’ll need a cleanup hitter.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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1. Farewell to The Captain…The Other Captain

And now, the end is near, Frank Sinatra is cued up and the Captain will face his final curtain.   

No, not Derek Jeter.   

Well, him, too, which is why when that final curtain falls this Sunday in Chicago, Paul Konerko will be over there in the shadows while all eyes are on Jeter’s finale in Boston.

There will be no lump-in-the-throat Gatorade commercial bringing Konerko home, no national spotlight. But the least we can do is pause long enough to send a tip of the cap to the Derek Jeter of the White Sox, a graceful player who will have his No. 14 retired this weekend as Chicago emotionally celebrates its own retiring legend.

“They’re both smart, classy, talented guys,” says Braves hitting coach Greg Walker, Konerko’s hitting coach with the White Sox from 2003-11. “I think how Paulie represented baseball shined a light for other players on how to do it the right way.

“If your best player does it the right way, then your young players will do it the right way, too.”

For 16 seasons, Konerko has done everything the right way in Chicago. His Game 2 grand slam against the Astros in ’05 helped the Sox win their first World Series in 88 years. His five homers and 15 RBI during that ’05 postseason will be remembered vividly even when Ozzie Guillen’s great-great grandson is playing shortstop on the South Side a few decades from now.

Konerko’s 432 homers and 1,383 RBI trail only Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in White Sox history, and only Hall of Famer Luke Appling played in more games for Chicago. Only Nellie Fox and Appling had more hits for the White Sox, and Konerko is the club’s all-time leader in total bases.

“I’ll tell you this,” says former White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy. “When I played with him and he was right, he was the best fastball hitter I’ve ever played with. He didn’t miss a fastball.”

Says Walker: “One of the best fastball hitters, if not the best, of his generation.”

For years, wherever Walker has traveled, hitters throughout the land have wanted to know the secrets to Konerko’s approach, mechanics and work ethic.

“Really a brilliant guy,” Walker says. “Early on when we worked together, we made an agreement: If I wanted to make any changes, it would have to be scientific.” Meaning, Konerko knew at all times exactly where his hands were during an at-bat, where his feet were placed and the general parameters of his swing path. And he was more obsessive-compulsive about all of it than an old couple insisting on an uncluttered house.

If anything—anything—was to be changed, Konerko wanted specific reasons.

But because he was so in tune with all of this, and because he was so analytical, Konerko was the master of making adjustments on the fly. And as such, he became the Man of a Million Swings.

“I used to joke with him, ‘What swing are you going to use today?’ ” Walker says. “And he’d say, ‘Number 72.’ Or, ‘Number 38.’

“I’ve seen him step out of the box, make an adjustment during the at-bat, step back in and hit a home run.”

Adds Walker: “I think that’s why he’s been such a big-game player. World Series, All-Star Games, he can make adjustments most people can’t. Or, instead of looking at it like, ‘This is the way I’ve always done it,’ he’ll say ‘Let’s come up with something else. I’m not going to keep making the same mistake over and over.'”

A lot of people are going to miss Konerko throughout the game, and it goes far beyond the White Sox simply being without one of the best middle-of-the-lineup players they’ve ever had.

“There’s not a whole lot of talk about him,” Peavy says. “Listen, Derek Jeter deserves every bit of credit. But Paul Konerko has had a wonderful career, and he’s done it the right way in a big city as well.

“It was an honor to play with such a great player and call him a friend.”

2. Atlanta Follows Brave New Path

Even more impressive than the Braves’ streak of 14 consecutive titles was their run of stability: Not since 1990 had they fired a general manager or manager.

That is, until Monday, the day after they were eliminated from the postseason, when they tomahawk-chopped GM Frank Wren.

The Braves’ second massive collapse in four seasons doomed Wren, who constructed a flawed roster with too many high-strikeout, low-on-base guys who failed to click. The Braves also fired Bruce Manno, director of player development.

At a press conference Monday, club president John Schuerholz spoke of “putting in place the finest baseball operations [staff] ever seen in Major League Baseball” to take the club to “higher and greater ground.”

Three early names to watch:

• John Coppolella, 35, the Braves’ assistant general manager, is very highly thought of and respected throughout the game.

• Kansas City GM Dayton Moore, who worked in Atlanta’s organization from 1994 to 2006 before leaving for the Royals. Schuerholz repeatedly referenced the “Braves Way” Monday, and Moore certainly knows the blueprint there. He’s worked hard to install a similar plan in Kansas City, where he has two years left on his contract.

• Former Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who built a winner for a time in Chicago and currently is Yankees GM Brian Cashman’s assistant. Hendry has a very good relationship with Schuerholz and Co., knows talent and would seem to fit in well in the Braves’ collegial atmosphere.

Beyond that, longtime baseball man John Hart, named as the Braves’ interim GM by his good pal Schuerholz, is said to be enjoying his television work at MLB Network and the flexibility that affords him too much to want to go back to being a GM full time.

However, he also would not definitively rule out the idea of him becoming Atlanta’s full-time GM. As Schuerholz quipped, “It is not a completely closed or open door, is what he meant to say.”

Several of Wren’s high-profile free-agent signings became unmitigated disasters, most notably outfielder B.J. Upton (five years, $75.25 million), Dan Uggla (five years, $62 million) and Derek Lowe (four years, $60 million). Add some internal discord—among other things, Cox and Wren clashed, something that went very public when Cox failed to mention the GM during his Hall of Fame induction speech this summer—and the door to Wren’s exit was opened wide.

As for the biggest on-field reasons, Upton and Uggla, in particular, were representative of the club’s streaky, high-strikeout lineups in recent years.

As one longtime executive told Bleacher Report, “Two contracts like that set your organization back for years.”

Added a longtime scout: “They’ve got to split up the Upton brothers.” Justin, acquired by Wren in a trade, has outperformed his brother.

Schuerholz says the new GM will have the ultimate decision on manager Fredi Gonzalez, who survived Monday’s bloodletting, and there is a high probability that when the Braves convene next spring in Florida, Gonzalez will remain as manager.

Asked whether he would endorse Gonzalez to the new GM, Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox said, “Yes, absolutely.”

Cox was fierce in his support.

“Fredi’s done a remarkable job since he’s taken over,” Cox said. “For me, since 2011, I think he’s been outstanding. Last year, he had a difficult time winning 96 games with the things that were taking place.”

3. Let’s Get a Move On

Anybody who’s been to a baseball game lately knows that…zzzzzz.

Sorry, dozed off there. Allow me to start again:

Anybody who’s watched a baseball game on television lately knows that…zzzzzz.

OK, let me put this another way: The top priority of incoming commissioner Rob Manfred must be to reconnect with the younger generation. That covers a lot of ground, and one key tenet is tackling the (snail’s) pace of game.

Baseball announced Monday that Bud Selig recently conducted a conference call with a new pace-of-game committee, which will be chaired by Braves president Schuerholz and also includes Manfred, Mets GM Sandy Alderson, Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner and team partner Michael Gordon, players’ union boss Tony Clark and MLB executive VP Joe Torre.

The average MLB game this year is running a whopping three hours and 13 minutes. Here are a few things the committee should be discussing:

• Enforce a rule already on the books, that pitchers have a maximum of 12 seconds to throw the ball after they receive it. Not to pick on one guy in particular, because many are guilty, but Giants reliever Jean Machi on Sunday took 41 seconds to deliver one pitch in San Diego, and 35 seconds to deliver another.

• Once hitters step into the batter’s box, they should stay there. No stepping out after every pitch to adjust batting gloves, helmets or to look for ma in the stands.

• Kill walkup songs. Just do away with them. Look, I’m into music as much as anybody, but all the walkup songs do is cause the batter to move more slowly into the box. Get in there and get to work.

• Streamline the new instant replay system. This one is obvious. Managers sloooowly walking out to an umpire while waiting to get word from a coach as to whether they should challenge a call is wasting more time than your Aunt Hattie on the telephone. This one has got to be seriously tweaked.

• Plate umpires need to call the entire strike zone, both north to south and east to west. Small strike zones drag things out. Call a big zone, it moves the game along and it encourages hitters to swing, rather than pick over every pitch as if sorting through peaches looking for the ripest.

4. Matt Kemp Rising

Maybe we were all wrong about Matt Kemp. Perhaps all he needed following major shoulder and ankle surgeries was, duh, time, sweet time to work off the rust and recalibrate his timing.

Following his four-hit, four-RBI day Sunday, Kemp entered this week leading all NL regulars after the All-Star break in slugging percentage (.594), was second in home runs (15) and fourth in OPS (.964). He ranked second to teammate Adrian Gonzalez (52) with 49 RBI. The talk of how to squeeze four outfielders into three spots has dissipated. Kemp not only has earned the right to play every day—the Dodgers need him. Especially with Hanley Ramirez in and out of the lineup and Yasiel Puig’s inconsistency this year.

And don’t underestimate the fact that since getting yanked out of center field because he was becoming a liability, Kemp has found a comfort level in right field that he did not in left. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly initially moved him to left before settling on right, the position Kemp grew up playing. Through Monday, Kemp had played 44 games in left this season for the Dodgers, 41 games in center and 54 in right.

5. Big Week for Pirates

As the Pirates and Giants jockey for NL wild-card position—so long, Brewers—logic tells you that home-field advantage in next week’s Wild Card Game will be invaluable to the Pirates.

Their 51-30 home record is tied with St. Louis for the NL’s best. And baseball fever is fully back at PNC Park, where the Pirates set a record this season with more than 2.4 million in attendance.

Now for the twist: Oddly, a Giants-Pirates Wild Card Game in Pittsburgh might also be best for…San Francisco?

The Giants have not played particularly well at home this year. They are 42-35 at AT&T Park only because they’ve won 12 of their past 15 games there. Until a 6-1 homestand last month against Colorado and Milwaukee, the Giants were stumbling badly at home in one of many odd turns to their year.

Overall, coming into this week, the Giants ranked eighth among NL teams in runs scored at home (303), eighth in home batting average (.257) and 11th in slugging percentage at home (.381).

6. Nationals Treasure: Should He or Shouldn’t He?

The biggest question as Stephen Strasburg prepares to participate in the first postseason of his career is whether he should start Game 1 next week for the Nationals.

During a wide-ranging discussion on MLB Network Radio last week, I said I’d go with Jordan Zimmermann. A very well-reasoned caller made a case for Doug Fister.

Now, indications are that manager Matt Williams may choose Strasburg. So, please allow me to do what managers who are preparing for the postseason all over are doing: re-evaluate and study daily. And the more I do, the more I’m thinking Strasburg.

For one thing, the man who would be the Nats’ ace has pitched as if he is in his most recent outings. Over his past five starts, Strasburg has produced a 1.35 ERA with 33 strikeouts and just two walks. For another, the Nats will open the Division Series at home, and Strasburg, for whatever reason, has been much more comfortable there this season.

In 17 home games at Nationals Park, Strasburg is 8-3 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.055 WHIP.

In 16 road games, the right-hander is 5-8 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.232 WHIP.

If the Nationals are going to go as far as they hope, Strasburg is going to have to win on the road in October. But given his current run and his home credentials, as well as the fact that the Nationals have treated him as an ace all along, he’s earned Game 1.

7. Jerome Williams, Athletics Killer

If Oakland misses the playoffs by a game, you can blame veteran right-hander Jerome Williams, who over the weekend became the first pitcher in history to beat a team three times in a season while pitching for three different clubs.

Working for the Phillies, Williams beat the A’s on Saturday.

Working for the Rangers, Williams beat the A’s on July 25.

Working for the Astros, Williams beat the A’s on April 26.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only one pitcher since 1900 has even had a chance to beat the same club three times in a season for three different teams: Willis Hudlin, who beat the Philadelphia Athletics (yes, the A’s again) pitching for Cleveland and the Washington Senators in 1940. He faced them again later that season while pitching for the St. Louis Browns, but, alas, the Browns lost.

8. Award-Winning Short

Have you seen Gatorade’s spot on Derek Jeter’s farewell? If you haven’t, you absolutely should. It is terrific:

9. This Guy Once Ate Vicks VapoRub

Bumped into the inimitable, legendary Kevin Mitchell at the park the other day. Mitch always was a favorite. He was fun to watch, always had a smile and often some crazy story that made you wonder if he really was a native of, say, Pluto. Like the Vicks story. He used to say when he had a cold he would eat a bit of the stuff.

Anyway, Mitch looks pretty good. No heavier than when he was playing. Still rocking the gold front tooth. But he’s due for right hip replacement surgery within the next couple of weeks, which will temporarily sideline him from his work as a hitting instructor for kids from seven or eight years old all the way up through college age at the Brick Yard in San Diego.

He asked whether I thought the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton or the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw would win the NL MVP award. You can guess who he’s rooting for.

“I’m a hitter,” said Mitchell, who added that he doesn’t attend many MLB games anymore, but he made it a point to come to Petco Park earlier this season to see Stanton.

“Unbelievable,” Mitchell said. “Love him. I’ve never seen the kid play. Only on TV. I wanted to see how big he is. He makes the game seem easy.”

And?

“These kids are unbelievably big.”

About that time, Padres broadcaster Mark Grant, who once was traded for Mitchell, came over to say hello and asked Mitchell if he remembered the time he came to the park all depressed because he had lost his snake.

“Yes,” Mitchell said. “He was gone for two-and-a-half months.”

Two-and-a-half months? Turned out, the snake was hiding in Mitchell’s house all that time. Then one day, just as quickly as the snake disappeared, he reappeared.

“Came out hungry,” Mitchell said.

9a. Rock ‘n’ Roll Lyric of the Week

Ah, you slumping Athletics, Brewers and Braves…

“Now you’re lookin’ at a man that’s gettin’ kinda mad

“I had a lot of luck but it’s all been bad

“No matter how I struggle and strive

“I’ll never get out of this world a-live

“My fishin’ pole’s broke, the creek is full of sand

“My woman run away with another man

“No matter how I struggle and strive

“I’ll never get out of this world alive

“Ev’rything’s agin’ me and it’s got me down

“If I jumped in the river I would prob’ly drown

“No matter how I struggle and strive

“I’ll never get out of this world alive

—Steve Earle, “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive”

Scott Miller covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report. He has over two decades of experience covering MLB, including 14 years as a national baseball columnist at CBSSports.com.

Follow Scott on Twitter and talk baseball @ScottMillerBbl.

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The big-money stars just might be coming on at the right time.

For nearly the entire season, the Los Angeles Dodgers could not get health or consistent, steady production from the bulk of their highly priced core, especially the men whose primary job is hitting.

But as the final week of the regular season begins and the postseason starts to yawn and stretch as it wakes, the Dodgers appear to be hitting full sprinting speed despite a 13-inning loss Monday night that kept their magic number to win the National League West at three.

From Aug. 31 through the start of Monday’s game, the Dodgers had one of the most devastating offenses in the majors with a .308/.369/.478 slash line and an .847 OPS. As a team this month, the Dodgers are second in the majors with 120 runs scored (three behind the leading Los Angeles Angels), leading with 27 home runs, second with 341 total bases and second with an .820 OPS.

That is monstrous production, and it’s the stars leading the way:

• Since the All-Star break, Matt Kemp, one of the game’s best all-around players in 2011 and part of 2012 before a shoulder injury sapped him, has hit .304/.363/.580 with a .943 OPS, 15 homers and 49 RBIs. In September, he has hit a major league-leading seven home runs and went into the week with a 1.044 OPS.

“He’s been great,” manager Don Mattingly told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. “It seems like a lot of our guys have been stepping up. He’s certainly one of those guys.”

• Since Sept. 5 and going into Monday, Hanley Ramirez has been red hot. He hit .451/.509/.588 with a 1.097 OPS, seven doubles and 11 RBIs in 15 games. He was also hitting .511 on balls he put into play.

• Adrian Gonzalez has joined the romp since the break. He went into Monday hitting .326/.378/.561 with a .939 OPS, 11 home runs and 52 RBIs in his previous 59 games.

• Yasiel Puig, the most polarizing player in the sport, had been going through a prolonged slump since Aug. 4. In 31 games from that date, Puig hit .186/.289/.212 without a home run and five RBIs. But from Sept. 13 to the start of Monday’s contest, Puig was 17-for-40 (.425) with a 1.152 OPS and two home runs in nine games.

• Finally, since Aug. 10 and entering the week, Carl Crawford was hitting .411/.449/.579 with a 1.029 OPS, seven doubles, three homers, 20 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 34 games. He also homered Monday.

Dodgers offense exploding at the right time. pic.twitter.com/yJqudqX8P6

— Angel Gonzalez (@angel_G96) September 20, 2014

Those five players have contracts worth a combined $568 million, although the Dodgers haven’t paid all of that money since Gonzalez, Crawford and Ramirez were acquired through trades after those deals had been finalized. Also, the bargain that is Dee Gordon has been back on track lately, hitting .312/.318/.385 in his previous 22 games before Monday.

“Hanley’s swinging better, Yasiel’s swinging better, Dee’s getting his hits, Adrian’s been the same all year,” Mattingly told J.P. Hoornstra of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on Sunday. “Our guys know what’s at stake.” 

Right now, that’s a second consecutive NL West title. After this week: the franchise’s first World Series title in 26 years. That is why this team was built the way it was once the Guggenheim Baseball Management group took over ownership from the despised Frank McCourt in 2012.

This was the blueprint. This was what things were supposed to look like, how they were supposed to work. The Dodgers broke payroll records this year to field a team that trotted out expensive superstars at nearly every position. They spent so there would be no real breaks in the lineup for opposing pitchers, and they spent for pitching so that they could still walk away with victories even when the offense wasn’t running at optimal levels.

On that pitching front, Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu—they make a combined $398 million—have done their jobs. Dan Haren, on the other hand, has been a liability for a good portion of the season, but even the 34-year old veteran has learned to pitch with his declining tools. Over his last nine starts, including Monday, Haren has allowed 14 earned runs in 54 1/3 innings for a 2.32 ERA, making him another guy getting his act together at the right time. His start Monday kicked in a vesting option for 2015 that would pay him $10 million, the same as his salary from this season.

This Dodger club has no excuses. It’s relatively healthy—Ryu’s status for the postseason is still up in the air—and could gain home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs if things fall right.

And for maybe the first time since Guggenheim got its receipt for the team, everything seems to be moving as planned. All that’s left is another month of production, and this could be the team that breaks the championship dry spell for one of the game’s storied franchises.

Anthony Witrado covers Major League Baseball for Bleacher Report. He spent the previous three seasons as the national baseball columnist at Sporting News, and four years before that as the Brewers beat writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.

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Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig were caught on camera bickering at each other during Monday night’s game, a clear sign that skipper Don Mattingly is losing the clubhouse and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers are primed for a September implosion.

Am I doing this hot-sports-takes thing right? 

For reference, here’s a look at the incident in question:

The Dodgers ultimately fell to the Rockies 11-3, and the sports world has gotten into quite a frenzy about that mini argument.

To be fair, it’s not difficult to see why it has received such attention. Puig is one of the most scrutinized players in the league. If he gets upset at his dog for going No. 2 inside the house or if he decides to put Sriracha on his eggs, you’re probably going to hear about it. Kemp, a one-time MVP candidate who hasn’t produced up to standards in the past two seasons, is another target of criticism. 

Take two closely dissected stars like that from a major city, put them in a shouting match, and you have the recipe for a national story. 

But that’s all it is—an interesting 41-second video to watch or maybe a talking point with co-workers or friends. However, it’s not a sign of things to come. It’s not an indication of how the clubhouse is being run or how Kemp and Puig feel about each other. And it’s certainly not an issue that anyone should be making a big deal out of. 

Whether it’s first-grade T-ball, the Show or any other team sport, teammates will undoubtedly get upset with each other. It’s part of knowing each other’s potential and wanting to get the most out of those closest to you. Better to push them—and yes, that includes yelling angrily at them sometimes—than coddle them when you’re losing. 

As ESPN’s Buster Olney and Fox Sports’ Jimmy Spencer argued, this is just natural in this kind of setting: 

Kemp was similarly nonchalant about the incident after the game, via the Orange County Register‘s Bill Plunkett:

“Oh, just talking in the dugout, same old things,” Mattingly added, via ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Mark Saxon. “We’re like the [Oakland] A’s, the ’72 A’s.”

Those 1972 Oakland Athletics were famous for fights between teammates, but no one seemed to mind when they won the World Series in ’72. And ’73. And ’74. 

Who knows if the Dodgers will follow in those footsteps, but at 86-64, four games clear of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West and just 0.5 behind Washington for the NL’s best record, they are certainly set up for a dangerous run in October. 

No matter who’s yelling at who inside the dugout. 

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The 2014 MLB trade deadline is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, and as it is every season, the rumors have started to come fast and furious from all corners of the sport.

With huge names like A.J. Burnett, Jon Lester, Matt Kemp and Jonathan Papelbon potentially on the move, the landscape of baseball could shift if the rumored trades come to fruition before the deadline.

Here are the latest reports from around Major League Baseball.

Phillies and Pirates Hammering Out Deal for A.J. Burnett?

The Philadelphia Phillies currently hold a 46-60 regular-season record, meaning the team will mostly likely become aggressive sellers at the trade deadline. The franchise must start thinking about the future, and that could mean dealing starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.

Burnett was brought in as a free agent to add another reliable arm to the rotation, but his services would be much better utilized on a team contending for a postseason berth like the Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are working on a deal, but the details are still being hammered out:

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com also reported the Pirates’ interest in Burnett but revealed a snag that could hold up a potential trade:

The Phillies and A.J. Burnett wouldn’t mind working out a deal for him to go to Pittsburgh, but the Pirates’ interest, believed mild at best, might fall further if Burnett intends to pick up a player option for next year that’s likely to be worth $12.75 million.

The 2015 option is for $7.5 million at its minimum, but it will begin escalating if he reaches 24 starts this season (he has 21 so far). If he starts 32 games, the option would rise to $12.75 million, which would be a budget buster for Pittsburgh.

Giving up seven earned runs in his last start is not what a prospective team wants to see from a trade target, but Pittsburgh knows exactly what Burnett would bring to the team based the two seasons he spent there (2012-13).

Burnett’s 2014 hasn’t been his best, but he has served admirably on a struggling team. His positive attitude has helped anchor the rotation, and he has amassed a 4.15 ERA, a 6-10 record and 123 strikeouts thus far.

With the Pirates depending on Edinson Volquez and Vance Worley as the No. 4 and No. 5 starters, respectively, in their rotation, adding an insurance policy like Burnett would be a great deal if the two sides can come to an amicable agreement.

Jon Lester-for-Matt Kemp Deal on the Table?

One of the biggest names on the trade block this season has been Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester. According to reports, Lester could be the key piece in a trade for Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.

In a report from Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, Los Angeles and Boston may be laying the groundwork for a blockbuster trade before the deadline:

He has had debilitating ankle and shoulder injuries that have limited his play the last two seasons, is still owed roughly $118 million on a contract that runs through 2019, and has a mixed reputation as a clubhouse presence, but the Red Sox are considering making a move for Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, according to a club source.

With the Sox in need of more offensive production in the outfield, the right-handed-hitting Kemp could be the major piece in a trade for Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester, especially with the Dodgers reluctant to part with top outfield prospect Joc Pederson.

This would be one of the biggest trades of the year, and it would make a lot of sense for both parties involved. Boston would get a legitimate return in Kemp for Lester before he hits the open market as a free agent.

Los Angeles will have to take the educated risk regarding Lester re-signing with the Dodgers, but the team would be able to add another ace to the already-powerful starting rotation. Add in the fact that moving Kemp would alleviate some salary-cap stress and free up another outfield position for the young players in the farm system, and this is a win-win deal for both teams.

With Lester pitching well (2.52 ERA, 10-7 record and 149 strikeouts) and Kemp performing strong since returning from injury (a .277 batting average, eight home runs, 40 RBI and a .343 on-base percentage on the season), this would be a blockbuster trade that could actually come to fruition before the deadline.

Philadelphia Pushing Hard to Move Jonathan Papelbon?

As discussed in the Burnett section, Philadelphia is slipping out of contention and should be looking to sell many of the high-priced pieces that aren’t going to be part of the long-term plan.

One of the biggest names thrown around in rumors has been closer Jonathan Papelbon, but there just hasn‘t been the attention the Phillies thought they would get for a player of his caliber.

According to Heyman, Philadelphia is so desperate to move Papelbon that the team is willing to eat a substantial portion of his salary, but there is still not enough interest to make a deal worth a move:

The Phillies are telling teams they’d absorb a portion of the $18 million remaining on closer Jonathan Papelbon’s deal if they are interested in trading for the closer. Papelbon’s market seems light, if existent, after both the Angels and Tigers filled back-end bullpen needs with Huston Street and Joakim Soria, respectively.

Despite the team’s struggles, Papelbon has not lost the tenacity and toughness be has become known for, and the numbers back that up. With a 1.83 ERA, 25 saves and 40 strikeouts in 44.1 innings, there is no question that he would be a welcome addition to any bullpen.

For the teams potentially interested in Papelbon, the high-priced contract is a major issue. If the Phillies are willing to eat a huge chunk of the money, as the report claims, it will be easier to move him in a last-second deal.

Stats via MLB.com.

Follow @Donald_Wood

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With just days to go until the July 31 trade deadline, the MLB rumors are rampant as teams fight to position themselves as championship contenders or sell off assets and play for next year. 

There are quite a few rumblings concerning big names on big-market franchises, and a potential blockbuster always adds a jolt to the excitement around the 100-game mark of the season. 

Let’s take a look at some of the potential moves that could go down before the playoff push.

Jon Lester Garnering Interest

The Boston Red Sox look like cellar sellers with a 47-56 record that has them firmly entrenched in last place in the AL East. According to ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes, the team could have a potential trade partner for starting pitcher Jon Lester:

One major-league source said the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Rays ace David Price, have had discussions with the Sox regarding Lester, but if so, those talks have not progressed very far to date.

The Dodgers were Boston’s trading partner for the blockbuster 2012 trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett west.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may not seem to need rotation help at first glance, with the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, but the back end of the rotation has faltered a bit. 

Hyun-jin Ryu is susceptible to the occasional spotty start, while Dan Haren has gone completely off the rails. The 33-year-old righty is 1-4 with a 6.92 ERA in his last five starts, per Baseball-Reference.com. However, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly still has some faith in Haren.

He said, via MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick:

In Pittsburgh, their leading winner has eight wins and Danny’s got eight wins. Dan Haren has done a pretty good job. It’s like we cut him up because he’s not Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu. I take exception to people who want to throw him aside. At this pace, he’ll win 14 or 15 games.

This confidence may be the reason talks have not progressed very far, as Haren did pitch very well early in the season and could return to form.

It should also be noted that Lester had made it known he could very well boomerang right back to the Red Sox after a trade without any issue.

“Yeah, why not?” Lester said, via Edes. “I mean, this is what I know, this is what I love. Like I’ve said many times, this is where I want to be. If they trade me, I completely understand.”

That would certainly be quite the haul if the Red Sox got some spare parts or prospects and have their trade piece come right back to them.

Matt Kemp Might Not Be Going Anywhere

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a glut of players in their outfield. Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke are all healthy and capable players.

It makes sense to alleviate the pressure by engineering a deal for one of these players, but according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers aren’t close to any significant deals and are wary of trading Kemp:

There have been rumblings about a potential Hollywood exit for Matt Kemp. The center fielder’s agent, Dave Stewart, recently made some fairly cryptic comments that have fueled talks of a Kemp exit.

“Eight years is a long time to be in one place,” Stewart told CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. “Sometimes change is good. This might be the time to change.”

It will be tough to move Kemp and his gigantic contract, which is set to pay him approximately $21.5 million a year through 2019, per Spotrac.

Dan Szymborski believed trading for Kemp could doom another general manager in a column for ESPN Insider (subscription required):

At this point, with Kemp in the post-star phase of his career, the situation that most comes to mind is the infamous trade that saw the Los Angeles Angels send Mike Napoli to the Toronto Blue Jays for the privilege of drastically overpaying Vernon Wells.

Any general manager looking to acquire Kemp this summer better remember that trade, because bringing in Kemp for anything but a bargain-basement price is likely not going to lead to October trophies but rather November résumé updating.

The Dodgers should try to part ways with Kemp, Ethier or Crawford. All three are injury risks, and the future of the franchise, Joc Pederson, is stuck in Triple A with a ridiculous .327/.458/.594 slash line. Kemp’s trade value could be the best it will be for a long time; he hit .317 in June and .381 over the past week, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Pederson, a center fielder, and Puig have the potential to become one of the best young outfield pairings in the majors. The only thing stopping them is the pileup of players at the big club.

Miami Marlins Could be Buyers at the Trade Deadline

The Miami Marlins were always going to be a tough read at the trade deadline. They have excellent building blocks in the form of Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich, not to mention the potential return of flamethrower Jose Fernandez next season.

They’re 49-53 and 7.5 games back of the Washington Nationals in the NL East, but there is an outside chance at a wild-card spot if they pick things up over the past few weeks. According to MLB.com beat writer Joe Frisaro, that might be exactly what the team has in mind for its trade-deadline strategy:

Five days before the deadline, the Marlins are hoping to become buyers. Winning four of five to open their road trip has raised optimism and hope they can make a playoff push. 

A starting pitcher is on their shopping list, but the urgency could subside if Brad Hand and Jacob Turner reach their potential in a hurry. Hand is doing so, coming off an impressive two straight wins of throwing at least seven innings.

This could be a huge gamble for the Marlins. If they try to buy their way into the playoff race, they would face a difficult task in beating out the top teams in the NL like the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and Nationals.

They do need help at the back end of the rotation. Pairing a solid pitcher with the likes of Henderson Alvarez and Tom Koehler could give them a playoff bump but just barely. Jacob Turner has struggled so far in the rotation, sporting a 6.03 ERA.

Frisaro also noted that Marlins are uninterested in dealing Stanton at this time. The team should definitely hold on to their star slugger, but being aggressive and buying players might not be the best move for them long term, especially when they do have stars to build around.

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1. How the Dodgers Could Fix Themselves

The Dodgers are stuck in neutral. Matt Kemp’s mind is stuck in 2011, the year he finished as runner-up to Ryan Braun in the NL MVP race.

Little of the math surrounding this most expensive team in baseball history adds up, including, still, the four-outfielders-for-three-positions equation.

For a time, early in the season, keeping Kemp, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig did make sense, perfect sense, even though many disagreed. Because Kemp opened the season on the disabled list following last year’s ankle surgery, and because Crawford is good for at least one trip to the DL, if not a couple, every summer there was no good reason why the Dodgers should have rushed into ridding themselves of any of the outfielders.

Now? There is.

Two months into another season testing skipper Don Mattingly’s crisis-management skills, the Dodgers have had enough time to settle in that it has become apparent that something has got to give.

That something should be Matt Kemp.

Go ahead, Dodgers. Trade him. Today. Tomorrow. Sometime between now and the July 31 trade deadline.

But in the name of all things holy and Tommy Lasorda, pull the trigger.

Kemp always has been more about style than substance, which was tolerable as long as he was playing in 159 games and swiping 34 bags (2009) or playing in 161 games while hammering 39 homers, driving in 126 runs and stealing 40 bags (2011).

But since shoulder and ankle surgeries, Kemp is not the same player. Not even close.

What’s worse, he still carries himself as if he is. And that diva demeanor is no small part of what’s threatening to sabotage the 2014 Dodgers from the inside out.

If he’s not grumbling about getting shoved over to left field even after his sloppy center field play made the move as obvious as mustard on a Dodger Dog, then he’s arguing with Puig in the dugout. Or getting himself ejected from a game in which Puig already had been scratched with an injury and the Dodgers needed all hands on deck.

The Dodgers signed Kemp to an eight-year, $160 million deal a month after his special 2011 season, and the returns have been almost all downhill ever since.

At 29, this is not to say that Kemp cannot be a key contributor on a winning team, or even a great player, again. But it is no guarantee.

And what the Dodgers must ask themselves as they work to win right now is, are they willing to wait for Kemp when there is no guaranteed return?

Especially when he grumbles when he’s not in the lineup (somebody must sit when all four outfielders are healthy), and especially when he chafes that the Dodgers have taken center field away from him?

If they’re not careful, these Dodgers have a chance to move from disappointing to toxic. They were at that intersection last year, too, and went 42-8. They are not going to go 42-8 again.

Moreover, the world has changed, permanently, for both Kemp and the Dodgers: He is not going to be their centerpiece player, most likely, ever again. Not with the bolt of lightning that is Puig in a Dodgers uniform.

For all of these reasons, the only way the Kemp/Dodgers relationship can be salvaged is if Kemp pulls off one of the most unexpected feats of his career: If he shrinks his ego enough to fit nicely into this Dodgers’ clubhouse.

So far, he has shown neither the willingness nor the ability to do that.

He is hitting .419 (13-for-31) over his past 10 games. That ought to pique the interest of somebody out there.

2. Derek Jeter, All-Star

It is absolutely no surprise that Derek Jeter now is fewer than five million votes from surpassing Ken Griffey Jr. for the all-time All-Star vote record.

Jeter’s final-year surge continues with 1,810,451 votes in the latest balloting announced Monday evening, outdistancing White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez (1,568,620) for the starting shortstop nod.

Now, presumably, Jeter’s lead will hold.

Question is, should it?

Quick answer: No, it shouldn’t.

At least, not with World Series home-field advantage now attached to the game’s outcome.

Scrap that, and I’ll gladly argue that Jeter should start. I’ll lead the parade. That Tuesday night next month has every chance to be as magical as Cal Ripken’s final All-Star Game in Seattle in 2001 (minus Tommy Lasorda nearly getting skulled, of course!).

Initially, I was on board when commissioner Bud Selig attached World Series home-field advantage to the Midsummer Classic, for one very simple reason: Baseball’s All-Star Game easily remains the best of any sport, and there is no reason it should be allowed to become irrelevant even if it is just an exhibition.

But when baseball started encouraging players to tweet during the game two years ago, that’s when the point was hammered home: You cannot have it both ways. You cannot have the outcome have real meaning while treating the rest of the game like a circus.

Detach the World Series from the All-Star Game, and Jeter absolutely should start in his final year. But that’s the only way.

3. Remembering Tony Gwynn, and Ted Williams

Stories flowed like base hits this week after the sad, too-early passing of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, and few can beat the memory of Gwynn tenderly aiding Hall of Famer Ted Williams during first-pitch ceremonies at the 1999 All-Star Game in Fenway Park.

It was Gwynn whom Ted Williams Jr. quietly had asked earlier in the day to make sure to help steady his dad during the ceremonies. That night, as two of the greatest hitters ever highlighted the Boston All-Star Game, the moment became magical.

Gwynn grew up in Southern California as a huge Ted Williams fan, anyway. When he was little, his father purchased Tony and his two bothers Ted Williams baseball gloves and Ted Williams cleats from Sears. As the years passed, after Tony and Ted met at the 1992 All-Star Game in San Diego, they became quite close, and Tony told him about the Ted Williams gloves.

“I asked him once, ‘As great a player as you were, why did you not get along with people in Boston?’” Gwynn told me two Aprils ago when we talked about the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. “He said, ‘Stupidity on my part, and people making more of things than there were.’”

Gwynn told me that he thought that the proud and stubborn Williams, though he never would admit it, regretted not tipping his cap to the cheering Fenway fans after he homered in his last career at-bat.

“He just ran into the dugout,” Gwynn told me. “I think it bothered him.

“That night [in Fenway at the ’99 All-Star Game], he tipped his cap. He threw that first pitch, and then he hugged Carlton Fisk. You’d have never thought there were any problems that night.”

Bob Gibson was there. Stan Musial. Willie Mays. Hank Aaron. Many players who would be named to the All-Century team at the next summer’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.

During the first-pitch ceremony, the All-Stars about to play flocked to the mound in an impromptu act that remains moving to this day. Gwynn remembered Williams beaming, and talking with several players—especially Mark McGwire.

“Ted asked Mark if he ever smelled the burn of the wood when he fouled a ball off,” Gwynn told me. “I just started laughing because the first time we met, he asked me the same thing.

“He wanted to know what kind of bat speed Mac had. He knew that if Mark didn’t smell that burn, then he didn’t have enough bat speed.”

4. Kansas City Singin’ the Blues No More

Winners of seven consecutive games starting the week, the Royals had gained five games on the Tigers in June despite the month being only half over. If that continues much longer in Motown, the Tigers will be put on serious notice.

The Royals’ heretofore spotty offense finally is producing, averaging 6.4 runs per game during the winning streak, and clubbing 14 homers, 37 doubles, two triples and producing a .426 slugging percentage in their past 16 games into Monday.

Compare that to just 21 homers, 3.8 runs per game and a .348 slugging percentage over their 52 games before May 29.

Eric Hosmer has three homers in his past seven games and has hit safely in five in a row, and Mike Moustakas is hitting .250 with a .455 slugging percentage since his return from a Triple-A stint on May 31.

5. Tigers Striped

While going 7-16 from May 19 through June 12, the Tigers got just eight quality starts in 23 outings. Four of them were produced by Anibal Sanchez, while Justin Verlander was 1-of-5.

6. Cardinal Statement

While sweeping the Nationals over Father’s Day Weekend, the Cardinals not only produced an impressive series that sent signals all the way to Milwaukee that they’ve got plenty of fuel left in the tank, but Matt Adams and his father combined to play a big league joke on Matt’s mother.

The details, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s outstanding Cardinals beat writer, Derrick Goold: After Matt blasted his second homer in two days Saturday with his father visiting for the weekend, the two phoned home and Matt told his mother that his dad “is moving in and staying with me” because of Adams’ power surge.

So, because of that, Matt told his mother she would have to care for the family dog, a boxer named Milo, for the rest of the season.

Alas, after Adams pounded his third homer in three days Sunday, he said that his father would still be going home.

As for the Cardinals, who shipped phenom Oscar Taveras back to Triple-A Memphis when Adams was activated from the DL, they played some of their best baseball of the season.

Matt Holliday’s swing is returning, lefty Jaime Garcia is throwing well and, after taking two of three in Toronto two weekends ago, the Cardinals are showing signs of establishing some consistency for the first time this season.

7. When 98 Wins Is Haunting

The Nationals had won 10 of 13 games before landing in St. Louis over the weekend and looked as if they were about to take charge in the NL East. In fact, I just about wrote that here last week.

Oops.

Ah, I still believe that in the end, the Nationals will be the team to beat in the NL East. They’ve just got too much talent, and with Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, Wilson Ramos and Doug Fister all back, and with Gio Gonzalez due to return this week and Bryce Harper due back next month, they will only get better and better.

But one thing they’ve taught us is, after winning 98 games and compiling the best record in the majors two years ago, things still aren’t going to come as easily as some expect.

“Winning 98 games is not easy to do,” Zimmerman told me when we talked last week. “It doesn’t happen very often. I think because we were young and because we were talented—and we still are a very talented team—people automatically assume, ‘If they were young and won 98 games, then for the next four or five years they should win 98 games every year.”

“We try. We want to win 100 games. There’s nobody in here that doesn’t want to win every game they play. But in a baseball season, it doesn’t matter if you win 98 games or 88 games or 108 games. Obviously, you want to win your division. And if you can’t do that, you’ve gotta fight like hell for that Wild Card. The goal is just to make it into the playoffs.

“Too many people get caught up in five games over .500, 10 games over .500, or this big of a division lead in June, which is silly. You’ve just got to get hot at the end of the year and, if you’re not in first place, keep yourself in striking distance so when that run comes it’s not wasted.”

8. Line of Succession in Philadelphia

When Jimmy Rollins passed Mike Schmidt’s Phillies record of 2,234 hits Saturday, our friends at the Elias Sports Bureau were quick to pinpoint the five pitchers who surrendered hits to both Schmidt and Rollins in their careers:

David Cone, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and John Franco.

9. Old-Timer This, Hoss

There was a time when baseball staged all kinds of old-timers’ games. The Yankees still do. Luke Appling once homered (albeit, over a shortened fence) in the Cracker Jack Old-Timers’ Series when he was 75.

So if those old games ever come back, just keep this in mind: Don’t invite Hall of Famer Robin Yount.

Speaking at a press conference Friday in Milwaukee in conjunction with the Brewers’ annual Wall of Honor ceremonies, despite Hank Aaron sitting nearby and stating that he loved the games, Yount essentially said to take your old-timers’ games and shove them.

“I will tell you what,” Yount, 58, said, via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter Bob Wolfley. “When somebody is very recognizable in a certain organization, a player the kids have heard their parents talk about…then you have an old-timers’ game and this guy hasn’t touched a ball or bat for 10 or 15 years. He’s out of shape. And you ask him to go try to play baseball and the youngsters say, ‘Dad, that’s the guy you told me was so good?’

“And I know that’s funny, but I am being very serious. I don’t think you want to have that memory put into that kid’s mind. They’re disappointed.”

Young continued: “I mean that sincerely. I don’t like old-timers’ games for that reason right there. And so if we have one here, I ain’t playin’. So don’t ask me to come.”

Funny thing is, Yount is in great shape and looks like he could still play.

9a. Rock ‘n’ Roll Lyric of the Week

Ah, Tony Gwynn. It was a privilege to know you, and we will never forget you….

“Sometimes when you’re doing simple things around the house

“Maybe you’ll think of me and smile

“You know I’m tied to you like the buttons on your blouse

“Keep me in your heart for a while

“Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams

“Touch me as I fall into view

“When the winter comes keep the fires lit

“And I will be right next to you

“Engine driver’s headed north to Pleasant Stream

“Keep me in your heart for a while

“These wheels keep turning but they’re running out of steam

“Keep me in your heart for a while

— Warren Zevon, Keep Me In Your Heart

Scott Miller covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report. He has over two decades of experience covering MLB, including 14 years as a national baseball columnist at CBSSports.com.

Follow Scott on Twitter and talk baseball here.

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Off to a 4-1 start, the Detroit Tigers should feel a sense of urgency this season after the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals proved in 2013 that they were quickly closing the gap in the AL Central.

But if the Tigers can at least partially fill the gaping hole in the middle of their lineup that the trade of slugger Prince Fielder created, their starting rotation is still good enough to carry the team into the postseason for a fourth consecutive season and into the World Series for the third time in nine years. 

Their World Series opponent, if you believe the so-called experts, will likely be the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the unanimous favorite with sportsbooks, according to Odds Shark, to win it all.

If their talent on paper can translate to wins on the field and they can overcome an extended absence of ace Clayton Kershaw, who is currently on the disabled list with a back injury, then we can look forward to a star-studded World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Tigers. 

Those two teams will get an early look at each other when the Tigers visit Dodger Stadium for a two-game series starting Tuesday at 10:10 p.m. ET. 

While the team’s respective aces, Kershaw and Justin Verlander, won’t make an appearance—Kershaw has 13 shutout innings versus the Tigers in his career; Verlander has never faced the Dodgers—the four starting pitchers scheduled to pitch are no slouches.

Missing Verlander, the 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner, would normally be a relief for opponents. But with 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer—who tossed eight shutout innings in his first start of this season—on the hill in Game 1 and Anibal Sanchez, the reigning AL ERA champ, scheduled to take the mound on Wednesday, the Dodgers are not getting much of a break. 

Their lineup won’t be at full health, either, with catcher A.J. Ellis (arthroscopic knee surgery) expected to be placed on the disabled list prior to Tuesday’s game and Yasiel Puig at less than 100 percent health with a strained thumb ligament. 

Regardless, a Puig-less lineup might have a better shot against the Tigers’ duo. They are extremely tough against right-handed hitters, who posted a .536 OPS against Sanchez and .494 OPS versus Scherzer in 2013. Right-handed batters are 2-for-19 against the pair thus far in 2014. 

In addition, left-handed hitter Andre Ethier, who would likely take Puig’s spot in the lineup, has had success against Scherzer over his career (6-for-15, HR, 2B).

If manager Don Mattingly really wants Puig, who is 6-for-24 with a homer and a double to start the season, in the lineup for at least one of the games, he could opt to sit Matt Kemp against Scherzer after checking out his career numbers against him. Kemp is 0-for-16 against Scherzer with no walks and four strikeouts. 

There’s no doubt that Scherzer and Sanchez are tough, helping to form one of, if not, the best top of the rotations in the game. But, after the Dodgers’ weekend series against the San Francisco Giants, the heart of the Dodgers’ lineup is shaping up to be just as impressive.   

Despite losing two out of three games to the rival Giants, the Dodgers have plenty to be excited about moving forward.

Kemp, who missed most of 2013 and is coming back from ankle and shoulder surgeries, looked as healthy as he’s been in a long time with a two-homer game on Sunday. Hanley Ramirez, who played in only 86 games last season because of multiple injuries, matched Kemp with two homers on Sunday and went 6-for-11 in the series with two doubles to go along with the home runs. Adrian Gonzalez also had two doubles and a homer. 

A healthy Kemp and Ramirez and a productive Gonzalez hitting in between them could give the Dodgers the most dangerous “heart of the order” in all of baseball. 

As Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times noted, the Dodgers have never been able to pencil in a healthy Kemp and Ramirez in the same lineup. 

“Hanley is on a different level,” Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke said. “If Matt’s like that, like he was today, you don’t want to face this lineup.”

Of the potential middle-of-the-order trio, Gonzalez added, “That’s a pretty good three-four-five.”

The Tigers lineup as a whole, though, has been much more impressive. Second in baseball with an .825 OPS through five games, this group is quickly easing concerns over how to replace Fielder’s production behind Miguel Cabrera. 

Leading the charge is Austin Jackson, who has moved down from the leadoff spot to protecting Cabrera and cleanup man Victor Martinez in the No. 5 hole. The 27-year-old center fielder is 7-for-20 with two doubles and a triple. Rookie third baseman Nick Castellanos (5-for-13, 2B) is also off to a strong start, as is veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez (4-for-11, 3B) and outfielder Rajai Davis (3-for-9, HR, SB).

Bottom-of-the-order production could be key to the Tigers’ season, as well as in this series against the Dodgers. Only Martinez (9-for-26, HR, 2 2B) has success against Dan Haren, who will start Tuesday’s game. 

In game two, they’ll face either Josh Beckett, who might be activated from the disabled list, or lefty Hyun-jin Ryu, who would be making his fourth start of the season.

The Tigers were shut down by the lone lefty starter they faced so far this season. Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Vargas allowed only one earned run against them in seven innings on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts. 

While the most interesting storylines involve the stars—Kemp and Ramirez versus Scherzer and Sanchez—each team’s ability to get the ball to their respective closer could be the difference in these games. 

Dodgers setup man Brian Wilson is on the disabled list with nerve irritation in his elbow, while the guy who was supposed to be the Tigers’ primary setup man, Bruce Rondon, is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The next most viable candidate, free-agent acquisition Joba Chamberlain, allowed two runs and four hits in his lone inning of work this season. 

J.P. Howell, Chris Perez and Chris Withrow have more than made up for Wilson’s absence, however, accounting for a combined 12.1 scoreless innings.

On the other hand, the Tigers have yet to find that reliever who will step up and take hold of a late-inning setup role. Al Alburquerque and Phil Coke have each had shaky outings, and closer Joe Nathan has struggled, allowing runs in each of his last two appearances and blowing a save.

If the baseball world is to be treated to a first-ever World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Tigers, the Dodgers will need their stars to stay healthy. The Tigers will need to strengthen their bullpen and continue to get production from the bottom of the order. 

But most teams, if not every single one of them, have questions to answer at this point of the season. It’s quite possible that the two most talented teams in baseball will take the field at Chavez Ravine on Tuesday and Wednesday before continuing on journeys that could lead them back to the same place as World Series opponents in late October.

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