Dodgers Rumors: After Kemp Trade, Will LA Pursue Free Agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado In 2018?

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been a historically pitching-rich team and often at the expense of their bats. That might change next year when some top bats hit the free-agent market and with the Dodgers having trimmed their payroll with the recent deal that sent four players to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Matt Kemp.

Kemp's return to Los Angeles may be short-lived. He is owed about $43.5 million over the next two seasons and Dodgers' president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman might be interested in freeing up more payroll space by either dealing Kemp or cutting him before the start of the season.

According to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers may deal Kemp and “appear willing to offer prospects” to complete a trade. The Dodgers currently have outfielders Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor, Andrew Toles, as well as Trayce Thompson, Enrique Hernandez and prospect Alex Verdugo.

Friedman wasn't shy about humorously touching on next year's free agents.

"Oh, I hadn't noticed. Is there a big free-agent class next winter?" he said.

Holding onto Clayton Kershaw is expected to remain a top priority. The fate of Hyun-Jin Ryu remains uncertain, as he will be entering the final year of his contract.

After Kershaw and Ryu there is a solid group of starting pitchers. Kenta Maeda is signed through the 2023 season, Alex Wood will remain arbitration eligible through the 2019 season, and Rich Hill is signed through the 2019 season. The Dodgers are also counting on young starters Julio Urias and Walker Buehler to possibly be mainstays in the rotation, but may consider signing a free agent like Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel.

But acquiring a big bat is expected to be the first order of business, and there are plenty of quality options next year. Charlie Blackmon, Josh Donaldson, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are just four names that could be on Friedman's list.

But which player will the Dodgers pursue and should they already be thinking about buyer's remorse for a player commanding possibly over $30 million a year?

Harper is clearly the most prized free agent of the group. The Washington Nationals' superstar outfielder will turn 26 in October and already has 150 home runs. Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post noted that "the Nationals could pay Harper $500 million over 10 years, and it would still be a good deal for them." Chelsea Janes of the Post pointed out that "no one can cross off the Dodgers" in the Harper Sweepstakes and that "the Dodgers continue to seem a natural fit" since Harper's family lives in nearby Las Vegas.

Machado, who also turns 26 next year, seems certain to leave the Baltimore Orioles and is expected to command more than $300 million. He prefers to play shortstop, which would likely mean the Dodgers shuffle some players around the diamond.

It's unclear if the Dodgers would be willing to pursue Donaldson and Blackmon, who are 32 and 31, respectively. Both players have posted stellar numbers but may not fit into the Dodgers' plans.

Donaldson plays third base and the Dodgers currently have a stacked left side of the infield with Corey Seager and Justin Turner. While Machado also is a left-sided infielder, the Dodgers would probably be willing to move players around to accommodate such a great bat. Donaldson has been an excellent power hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting a total of 111 homers in the past three seasons, but his batting average dipped to .270 in 2017 and he's only a career .277 hitter. It's also possible that by 2019 his best years will be behind him.

Blackmon bats left, which the Dodgers have mostly covered with Seager and Cody Bellinger. The Rockies outfielder also posted much stronger numbers at Coors Field than on the road. At Dodger Stadium, Blackmon has just a .709 OPS in 107 at-bats over the past three seasons.

Donaldson and Blackmon seem certain to receive less than Harper and Machado, but the Dodgers may actually get more for their money with a player like Machado. He might be an ideal fit in the batting order between Seager and Bellinger.