Matt Kemp Contract Overview
Matt Kemp is a former MLB outfielder whose most significant contract was an eight-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed in the offseason following the 2011 season. The agreement was worth up to $160 million, with $147 million guaranteed, making it one of the largest free-agent contracts in the National League at the time. The deal included a no-trade clause and a full no-trade protection after the first year, which was a key factor in Kemp's decision to stay in Los Angeles rather than test the market again. The contract was structured with escalating salaries, starting at $10 million in 2012 and reaching $18 million in the final year, with a $2 million signing bonus and $1 million in roster bonuses tied to plate appearances and All-Star selections.
Prior to the mega-deal, Kemp had signed a six-year, $100 million contract extension with the Dodgers in April 2006, which kept him in the Dodgers organization through 2011. That earlier deal was the richest in franchise history at the time of signing and reflected Kemp's rapid ascension after his Rookie of the Year-caliber 2011 season, where he hit 39 home runs, drove in 126 runs, and posted a .324 batting average. The 2006 extension was a six-year commitment worth $100 million, with a $10 million signing bonus, and was designed to keep Kemp in a Dodger uniform through his prime years. The extension was finalized just before Kemp became a free agent, effectively removing him from the market and securing his services for the Dodgers through the 2011 campaign.
Post-Dodgers Career and Contract Moves
San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves
After the Dodgers declined their $10.5 million club option for 2015, Kemp signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the San Diego Padres in December 2014. The deal included a $1 million signing bonus and a $1 million club option for the 2016 season, which the Padres later declined. Kemp's production declined in San Diego, as he posted a .246 batting average with 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 130 games, and his defensive metrics continued to drop from his elite 2011 peak. The Padres deal was a short-term bid to add power and right-handed pop to their lineup, and Kemp was traded to the Atlanta Braves in July 2015 in exchange for minor league prospects.
Kemp signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Atlanta Braves in August 2015, with a $1 million club option for 2016 that was not exercised. The deal was a low-risk, incentive-laced agreement that gave the Braves a veteran presence in the outfield for the stretch run. Kemp hit .244 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI in 42 games for Atlanta, and the club declined his 2016 option, making him a free agent again. He later signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds in 2016, which included an invitation to spring training, but he was released in March 2016 without making the major league roster.
Contract Legacy and Career Earnings
Total MLB Earnings and Financial Impact
Matt Kemp's total career earnings from his major league contracts exceeded $100 million, with the bulk of his income coming from the eight-year Dodgers deal and the earlier six-year extension. His 2011 season, which earned him the NL Hank Aaron Award and a Silver Slugger, was the catalyst for the massive free-agent contract, and his defensive highlight