Matt Kemp Doesn’t Want to Hear That He’s a “Fourth Outfielder”

Feb 13, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp (27) jokes around with Davey Lopes during camp at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Who is the odd man out in the Dodgers’ crowded outfield?

Right now you have Carl Crawford, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp on the roster. And Kemp is the one guy coming back with question marks about his physical condition. So logic says that Kemp is the odd man out at least to start, the fourth outfielder in that mix.

Just don’t tell Matt Kemp that, because he will snap your head off.

“I’m not a fourth outfielder. We can cut that question off right now,” Kemp said per the L.A. Times. “That’s the last question you have to ask me. I’m not a fourth outfielder. I’m not going to be a fourth outfielder. I’m here to help my team win and play every day. We can stop right there.”

Kemp continued, “I don’t know where you get this fourth outfielder talk from, man. You all love talking about four outfielders, man. That’s like the question of the day every day. I think all four of us outfielders feel the same way. None of us are fourth outfielders. Everybody wants to play every day. I won’t accept that role. I can’t accept that role.”

Sounds like the Dodgers will have a log-jam situation in the outfield once Kemp is ready to return from ankle surgery. That’s why you’ve heard trade rumors about Kemp. And trade rumors about Puig as well.

Kemp can easily make all the fourth outfielder talk go away. Once he returns, he just needs to start mashing at the MVP level he once showed. Then that log-jam will break up by itself. And he won’t have to answer any more annoying questions about being a fourth outfielder.

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