Acuna, Kemp, DH, and the 10 day DL

[Enscheff]

The Braves want to unload Kemp. Problem is, there are several 1B/DH options available to teams willing to take 1 year deals. No team is going to acquire Kemp in a trade that saves the Braves more than ~$5M.

Kemp can still hit. He could still serve as a good DH and an impact PHer. In lieu of $5M in savings, maybe the Braves could use him as an impact bench bat.

The Braves want to get Acuna in RF soon, but they need to keep him down for a few weeks to buy the extra year of control.

I propose starting the season with Kemp in LF, and then using the 10 day DL to give him consistent PAs in AAA between series in AL parks. For example:

3/29 - 4/22 (22 games, ~80 PAs): Kemp as MLB LFer with late game defensive sub, Acuna in AAA.
4/23 - 4/27 (5 games, ~5 PAs): Kemp as MLB bench bat, Acuna as MLB RFer, Markakis as MLB LFer
4/28 - 5/7: Kemp on 10 day DL, rehabbing in AAA
5/8 - 5/9 (2 games, ~10 PAs): Kemp as MLB DH in Tampa Bay
5/10 - 5/14 (4 games, ~4 PAs): Kemp as MLB bench bat
5/15 - 5/24: Kemp on 10 day DL, rehabbing in AAA
5/25 - 5/27 (3 games, ~15 PAs): Kemp as MLB DH in Boston
5/28 - 6/6 (10 games, ~10 PAs): Kemp as MLB bench bat
6/8 - 6/18: Kemp on 10 day DL, rehabbing in AAA
6/19 - 6/20 (2 games, ~10 PAs): Kemp as MLB DH in Toronto
6/21 - 7/1 (9 games, ~9 PAs): Kemp as MLB bench bat
7/2 - 7/4 (3 games, ~15 PAs): Kemp as MLB DH in NY

That's 150+ PAs during the first 3 months of the season from a guy who should post an .800+ OPS with very little time spent in the OF. If Kemp is at all an impact DH, that should give him enough time to prove it.

After that point there are no more games in AL parks, so the Braves either cut Kemp entirely, keep him as a PHer, or hope he has shown enough as a DH that some AL team will take him to save the Braves some more cash in 2019.

[bravesfanMatt]

6/20 - 7/30 Try to Trade Kemp

[sturg33]

Not sure Kemp would be down unless he was actually injured.

But the idea is sound. You can also platoon him with Markakis during his "bench days" so he can mash against lefties

[Chico]

Theoretically that would work, but if you're not going to play Kemp it's best to trade him. You don't need the distraction in the clubhouse. I don't have the stats to proive it, but I'm sure most GM's and coaches would agree it's not what's best for business.

Trade him to an AL team and take on a pitcher contract back like Hughes or Kennedy or just eat the money. Either way move on

[Enscheff]

6/20 - 7/30 Try to Trade Kemp

I'd keep him to DH in NY, then trade him or dump him.

In a perfect world Kemp shows he can be a .900+ OPS DH and some AL team comes calling for the bat.

[Enscheff]

Not sure Kemp would be down unless he was actually injured.

But the idea is sound. You can also platoon him with Markakis during his "bench days" so he can mash against lefties

This is precisely how the Dodgers manipulate the 10 day DL with pitchers to have extra arms available and essentially run a 7-8 man rotation.

Kemp doesn't have to "be down". He is an employee of the Atlanta Braves whose other option is to be released.

[Enscheff]

Theoretically that would work, but if you're not going to play Kemp it's best to trade him. You don't need the distraction in the clubhouse. I don't have the stats to proive it, but I'm sure most GM's and coaches would agree it's not what's best for business.

Trade him to an AL team and take on a pitcher contract back like Hughes or Kennedy or just eat the money. Either way move on

If the choice comes down to 150 PAs of Kemp and a real DH in inter-league games vs taking another bad contract, I think I'd choose the option that actually contributes to winning games and might prove to be a DH with some small amount of trade value (or at least less negative).

Of course if he turns into a twat in the clubhouse just dump him.

[nsacpi]

once Acuna comes up in May I would go with a Muk/Kemp platoon in left...no need to make it so complicated

[Bj1133]

So you're suggesting a team that just received an extremely harsh penalty for violating rules, go ahead and violate more rules just to keep a batter fresh? No thanks.

[Enscheff]

So you're suggesting a team that just received an extremely harsh penalty for violating rules, go ahead and violate more rules just to keep a batter fresh? No thanks.

Umm, there are no rules being violated.

[sturg33]

Umm, there are no rules being violated.

you can't fake an injury

which is why I said I doubt Kemp would be down for going on the disabled list when he is not disabled

I would imagine pitchers are more OK with it since they'd only be missing a start... Kemp would be missing 10 starts

[Enscheff]

you can't fake an injury

which is why I said I doubt Kemp would be down for going on the disabled list when he is not disabled

I would imagine pitchers are more OK with it since they'd only be missing a start... Kemp would be missing 10 starts

Kemp will be missing 0 starts because he is a bench player. He will almost certainly be nursing some sort of leg “injury” for the rest of his career.

They could just as easily assign him to AAA. Kemp can then choose not to go and be released. Same difference.