Yankees Would Be Making a Mistake in Acquiring Kemp

The rumor mill has the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in hot pursuit of LA Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. If true, the Yankees should bow out and bow out fast. Kemp is a talented, banged up, streaky player who is guaranteed $128MM over the next six years.

Perhaps this is all part of a ruse to throw a scare into Robinson Cano; to test his claim that he wants to remain in New York. If the Yankees are really pursuing Kemp the cost would not necessarily be high in the players sent to LA..if LA were to pick up much of the monies owed. If that's not the case, the Yankees are going to take a big hit to wallet, something they claim they do not want to do.

The 29-year old has always been loaded with potential and he reached new heights when he lost out (some would say robbed even before Braun got caught cheating) to Ryan Braun for the 2011 NL MVP. Kemp played all but one game that year, hit 39 dingers, drove in 126 runs, scored 115, and amassed 353 total bases. The latter four stats all led the National League and were career highs, as was his .986 OPS.

Kemp followed up his near MVP campaign with a solid 2012 season, but it was limited to 106 games due to an injured hammy. Problems with his shoulder, hammy, and ankle lmited him to 73 games this past season with and his numbers (.723 OPS) reflected it.

With Kemp on the precipice of turning 30, a (not necessarily earned) reputation of going through the motions at times, and going from laid back LA to the pressure cooker in New York, the Yankees should remember, "Let the buyer beware."

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Yankees fans will rejoice at a minor matter that took place a short time ago Monday- catcher Chris Stewart was shown the door, traded to the place where ex-Yankees go to die play, Pittsburgh. The Yankees will receive a player to be named later or cash from the Pirates in return.

An ex-Yankees catcher is returning to the AL East. Dioner Navarro, who at one time the Yankees had high hopes for, has signed a two year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. It's reportedly worth $8MM. Navarro began his career in the Yankees farm system, but never got a shot to show what he could do in the Bronx. He played with the Dodgers, Rays, and Cubs and had a bounce back offensive season in 2013. The Blue Jays are reportedly shopping current starting catcher J.P. Arencibia, who either hits a home run or makes no contact.