The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off one of the more surprising trades of the past offseason in reacquiring Matt Kemp from the Atlanta Braves, just three years removed from shipping him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Yasmani Grandal.
Many speculated that Kemp would eventually be flipped to an American League club, where he would be better suited as a designated hitter. The Dodgers also hoped to shed the remainder of his contract, as an effort to stay beneath the $197 million luxury tax threshold this season.
But there were ultimately no takers, and the 33-year-old went on to surpass expectations in Spring Training and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster.