Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Kemp reach $160 million eight-year deal – MLB News
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ centre-fielder, Matt Kemp, broke all records in the club, signing a $160 million eight-year contract on Friday, according to the sources. Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt announced in the news conference, the biggest ever deal made in
the history of the club.
The deal however has been made with high level of cooperation and trust. Kemp’s agent Dave Stewart stated to the reporters that the right-handed player will take less payment in the first year of this new contract to provide some flexibility to the club.
Kemp will get a total of $12 million including $2 million as a signing bonus in first year while $2 million more will be delayed until April 2013. He will get $20 million in 2013 and $21 million in 2014 and 2015 while he will get $21.5 million each in the
remaining four years.
It seems like Kemp has strong association with the club as he has told his agent to finalise the deal as early as possible, so that the club could bid on some of the top free agents, especially the Milwaukee Brewers’ first baseman Prince Fielder.
Stewart commented that the club needed some flexibility to bid with an open mind and Kemp wanted to provide this flexibility as soon as possible.
The jubilant Kemp said, "Another eight years in LA. That sounds good. I love this city and the fans. I definitely want to spend the rest of my career here. I know how unbelievable LA is when you're winning baseball games."
McCourt believes that Kemp will become the kind of player the Dodgers have been looking for a long time.
The 27-year-old Kemp is among the candidates competing for the 2011 Most Valuable Player Award, which is to announce next week. The right-handed hard hitter earned 126 RBIs, launched 39 home-runs and stole 40 bases with a .324 batting average this past season.
It makes him the best candidate to win the prestigious award.
Such a season has not been seen in the Dodgers’ history for many years. Kemp became the first Dodgers’ player to lead the National League in both home-runs and RBIs since Dolph Camilli did it in 1941. He also became the first Dodger to lead NL in home-runs,
RBIs and runs scored.
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