Dodgers and Braves make one of the craziest trades I've seen yet.

With the most recent MLB trade the Dodgers reaquire 35 yr old Matt Kemp and send 4 players and $4.5m cash to the Braves.

Dodgers Acquire Matt Kemp For Adrian Gonzalez, Kazmir, McCarthy, Culberson - MLB Trade Rumors

What's really funny about this trade is that the Dodgers were still responsible for some of Kemp's contract up through 2019 even though he hasn't been with them since 2014.

Kemp will not play for the Dodger’s. They’ll get rid of him before the season. No place for him to play. Dodger’s are positioning themselves to go all in on Bryce Harper next year.

Kemp will not play for the Dodger’s. They’ll get rid of him before the season. No place for him to play. Dodger’s are positioning themselves to go all in on Bryce Harper next year.

The story I read said their first goal was to get below the threshhold for paying luxury tax in 2018. Both teams now think they will get there. If they do in 2019 they will pay a 20% luxury tax instead of a 50% luxury tax when Harper, Kershaw, Machado, and others hit the FA market.

AGon only agreed to the trade if the Braves agreed to release him which they will do.

The story I read said their first goal was to get below the threshhold for paying luxury tax in 2018. Both teams now think they will get there. If they do in 2019 they will pay a 20% luxury tax instead of a 50% luxury tax when Harper, Kershaw, Machado, and others hit the FA market.

 

AGon only agreed to the trade if the Braves agreed to release him which they will do.

Just another case for a true salary cap like football. This just makes the small market teams even less capable of competing for a world series title. Magic Johnson is more than willing to spend what it takes to win a title.