The Braves have told new left fielder Matt Kemp that he needs to get in better physical shape to reach his potential, general manager John Coppolella said during an interview with MLB Network Radio.
“We see Matt Kemp as a player with a big upside,” Coppolella said. “He’s 31-years old. He is not in shape and that’s something we need to work on with him. He’s been told about it. We are going to talk to him more. It’s the kind of thing where, for him, you can’t really do that during the season. It’s not like you can drop 30 pounds during the season and keep playing.”
Coppolella said he believes Kemp “cares greatly” and “knows he has to lose some weight.” Coppolella said the Braves may not have been able to acquire Kemp if he were in shape and still producing at the level that earned him two All-Star selections and runner-up in the voting for 2011 NL MVP.
The Braves acquired Kemp from the Padres on July 30 in exchange for Hector Olivera. Kemp’s contract will pay him $21.5 million in each of the next three seasons through 2019. The Padres are paying $3.5 million of Kemp’s annual salary as part of the agreement they reached with the Dodgers when they acquired Kemp in a trade.
Kemp won Gold Glove awards in 2009 and 2011 while playing mostly center field for the Dodgers. He’s played mostly in right field since then but the Braves have him in left with Nick Markakis as the regular right fielder.
Coppolella said Kemp “isn’t real good in left because he’s out of shape” and predicted he would be a better defender if he gets fit. Coppolella also left open the possibility of Kemp and Markakis switching positions for next season.
“Those are the kind of moves you make during the off season,” Coppolella said during the MLB Radio Network interview. “You don’t do it during the year, you don’t shake things up. Veteran players have plenty of things they’ve got to worry about during the year. I think you kind of reassess things during the off season if you want to make that type of a move.”
Kemp’s offensive production also has declined in recent years. For the season entering Sunday Kemp was hitting .259 with a.291 OBP and .474 slugging. In 18 games with the Braves he was hitting 16-for-66 (.242) with a .320 on-base percentage and .379 slugging percentage.
Coppolella said Kemp’s offense also could improve if he gets in better shape.
“With him not being in the best shape he’s still got 30 doubles, 25 homers, 80 RBIs and he’s hitting .260 which is a huge upgrade over what we were running out there,” Coppolella said.
