News broke today that outfielder Matt Kemp's physical revealed that he has arthritis in both hips. The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a deal that would send Kemp to the Padres for catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Zach Eflin. Eflin was supposed to be shipped to the Phillies as part of the Jimmy Rollins deal. But if the Kemp trade does not occur, would the Phillies end up with Rollins again?
According to CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury, the deal will likely still happen even if the Kemp deal falls through:
The holdup continues to be a proposed trade that would send outfielder Matt Kemp from the Dodgers to the San Diego Padres. The Padres were expected to send a package of players, including minor-league pitcher Zach Eflin, to the Dodgers. Eflin, in turn, was expected to be sent to the Phillies along with another minor-league pitcher, Tom Windle, as compensation for Rollins.
According to sources, the trade that will send Rollins to the Dodgers remains in place. However, the Phillies may have to get a player other than Eflin if the Kemp-to-San Diego trade falls through. Sources say the Phillies and Dodgers have discussed other players as part of the deal.
Yesterday I suggested pitchers Jose De Leon and Chris Reed as possibilities instead of Elfin.
Phillies fans are mainly waiting for the trade to happen so they can begin some sort of closure; losing a long-term player like Rollins will be a difficult change for some Phillies fans. Further, Rollins had had to keep silent about the transaction while it waited in limbo.
