Tony Kemp signed a one-year deal with Baltimore on Tuesday, according to Andy Kostka of BaltimoreBanner.com. Kemp opted out of his minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds last week, but he soon found a new home. This time, he will be a candidate for a major league deal, with options to play second base and left field. He will most likely be assigned to a reserve position off the bench for the Orioles. Nick Maton was given the responsibility to create place for Kemp.
Tony Kemp joined the Baltimore Orioles.
The 32-year-old will get $1 million, more than the $740,000 league minimum. Kemp has had a solid four-year run with the Oakland Athletics. He was striking out 11.1 percent of the time and drawing walks at 10.5 percent. His hitting line of.340/.330/.345 is still near to average, but his most recent four-season total was his lowest. He performed well with the Reds, hitting.333/.391/.619 in 23 plate appearances.
Despite having a terrific spring, the Reds were not going to offer him a roster place. The club’s position player mix is congested, pushing Kemp to return to the free agency market.
Will he be on the Opening Day roster?
The Orioles have yet to determine their Opening Day roster, and Kemp’s contract does not guarantee him a berth. Tyler Nevin remains in contention for the last bench position. Kemp and Nevin are out of alternatives due to their similar play styles. They can play both infield and outfield; however, Nevin hits right-handed while Kemp hits left-handed. The final rosters will not be decided until Thursday, when the Orioles face the Los Angeles Angels. Whoever makes it will most likely serve as a filler until one of the club’s top prospects is promoted.
A Possible Veteran Presence on an Emerging Bird Team
The Orioles are stacked with position player skill. They will find a way to bring in the veteran, one way or another. Baltimore decided to give their younger players additional experience in Triple-A. Players like as Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo, Kyle Stowers, and Heston Kjerstad were optioned or reassigned in the last week. Kemp will most likely play many positions on the bench as those young players gain more playing experience on the farm. Kemp’s platoon splits have been generally neutral throughout his career, and he has double-digit stolen bases in the last two years. This might allow him to act as a pinch-runner at times.
