Extension Candidate: Matt Kemp

Season Averages: 111 games, .289/.341/.478, 16 home runs, 19 stolen bases

Matt Kemp has long been one of my favorite players in the game and he has great tools. He began his career early as a 22 year old in 2006. As seasons went by he become a more and more refined player. In 2007 he hit .342 in 98 games, and in '08 he flash his speed stealing 35 bags, while also adding some power with 18 bombs. Then in 2009 he really came into his own; Kemp had a line of .297/.352/.490 while stealing another 30+ bags and finally showing big power with 26 home runs.

2010 was a season to forget for the young center fielder. Kemp's season started ugly and it didn't help that Dodgers GM, Ned Colleti, added a lot of pressure early on through comments to the media. The power kept up, as Kemp hit a career high 28 home runs, but his running game looked disastrous and his defense was as ugly as it comes. Kemp finished 2010 with a .249/.310/.450 line, 15 caught stealing, and a K% that jumped up 5.3 points.

So far in 2011 Matt Kemp is proving he still has amazing tools and 2010 was a fluke. The 27 year old has been a rock for LA; through 29 games he's hit .373/.448/.609 with 6 home runs and 8 stolen bases. He's been able to control his K% while showing new patience with a 12% BB rate (up from his career average of 7.4%). Kemp's defense still remains in the red (as far as UZR goes), but it is no where near as ugly as it was last year.

The Dodgers already have a stud outfielder in Andre Ethier, but Kemp is a game changer. He is developing into a 30-30 player who can easily hit .300+. If the walks keep coming, that brings a whole new element into his game which that could push his OPS to the .900-1.00 range. At 27 Kemp could be looking at a 6 year deal, with a couple options, around $18-20 million a year. The biggest obstacle in Kemp's way is the financials of the Dodgers. However, with the MLB take over in LA business can finally return to normal and Matt Kemp could be looking at the next big extension.