It's no secret that the Braves are having a bad season. Well, maybe the worst season since I've been born. But the Braves and their fans are hopeful for the future, looking to their Minor League prospects to make a real impact in the show in the next few years. And that seems to be the only thing that the Braves can hope for, losing All-Stars like closer Craig Kimbrel, shortstop Andrelton Simmons, outfielding duo Justin and BJ Upton, outfielder Jason Hayward and many many others. Take into account the departure of manager Fredi Gonzalez and you have a team that is hopeless in 2016. I would honestly be happy with a .500 season average for the Braves this year. But the Braves just made a trade that I feel can pay dividends for the next few seasons. Matt Kemp recently got picked up from the Braves from the Padres and I just wanted to put out some points that I feel make this trade beneficial for the Braves' future.
1. He's not old enough to retire soon.
Matt Kemp is currently 31 years old. While that is somewhat old to be playing a professional sport, I think that his size and stature are large enough to keep him playing for the next few years at least. I mean hell, I want to move as good as this guy does when I'm 31!
2. He's got the tools.
Everybody hears about these "tools" players have. Does a player have speed? Power? Arm Strength? For Matt Kemp, the answers are yes, yes and yes. But Kemp has something else that puts him ahead of a majority of players: experience. Coming into the league in 2006, Kemp has 10 years of major league experience under his belt. He's also very durable, not being injured since 2014. Granted he's not made of metal, but the Braves could do a lot worse that an outfielder of this caliber.
3. He knows the National League.
Matt Kemp was born into the National League and has stayed there for ten years straight. I can't tell you how many players switch from National to American and vice versa only to fall out and fizzle in a sea of mediocrity. This is because it's a different game! No designated hitter for the National League creates a huge impact on the pace and strategy of the game (yes, baseball does have strategy involved...) And since Kemp has been involved in this type of play for ten years, he's a very strong candidate for a leader in the outfield for the Braves.
4. He can be a leader to new Braves's players.
The Yankees had Derek Jeter. The Nationals have Bryce Harper. The Cubs have Jake Arrieta. Every team needs a leader, and currently I just don't see a leader within the Braves organization. It's a club that is in desperate need of this kind of player and I think that Matt Kemp has the potential to be that player. He was a central leader when he was with the Dodgers so he has experience within that role. And while his stats are not the greatest in the world, I have a good feeling that he will begin to see improvements in the next few years. I'm not talking about .350 batting average and 50 home runs stats, but he has very consistently hit between 25 and 30 home runs over the past few seasons with a batting average between .270 and .320. Those are solid numbers! I also feel that Kemp brings a certain mentality to the table. He's fiery with an almost cockiness that makes him stand out. And as Crash Davis said "That's the secret. You gotta play this game with fear and arrogance" (Bull Durham.)
So those are a few reasons why I think Matt Kemp can help turn the Braves around in future seasons. Of course, only time will tell if he turns out to be a solid trade, or another Braves dud.
