San Diego Padres: Kemp has ‘Severe Arthritis in both Hips’

When the San Diego Padres landed All-Stars Matt Kemp and Justin Upton to play alongside Wil Myers in the outfield, the lineup was starting to look packed with power hitters. The Padres, who finished last in the league in offense, were starting to look like contenders until Kemp's physical revealed surprising results.

According to several reports, an early physical showed signs of "severe arthritis" in both of Kemp's hips. Although the deal has not been finalized, sources reported that the Padres still want Kemp. However, the Padres will also reportedly consult medical experts before they finalize any deal.

Bob Nightengale with USA Today Sports writes:

"The San Diego Padres are trying to decide whether to finalize or void their celebrated trade for Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp after his physical revealed severe arthritis in both hips, a person familiar with the diagnosis told USA TODAY Sports ... Yet, Kemp's physical that was taken Tuesday revealed the arthritis, which caught him by surprise. The Padres' physicians now are discussing whether the arthritis would impact his career."

If the Padres still want Kemp, they might try to change the terms of the original trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which promised the Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitching prospects, right-hander Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin in exchange for Kemp, the $32 million he is owed in his contract and catcher Tim Federowicz.

"It's also quite possible the Padres could re-work the trade with the Dodgers, getting more money in return to cover the remaining $107 million in Kemp's contract or alter the package of prospects the Dodgers are receiving," Nightengale added.

On the other hand, if the Kemp deal falls apart the Dodgers' other deal could be lost as well. The Dodgers have been trying to get Jimmy Rollins from the Philadelphia Phillies. However, completing that trade was highly dependent on one of the pitching prospects that the Dodgers would get from the Kemp trade.

On top of that, Padres were apart of a three-team deal that would bring in catcher Ryan Hanigan. If the trade falls through, the Padres would keep Grandal, making Hanigan's role redundant.

Kemp, 30, batted .287 with 25 homeruns, 38 doubles and 89 RBI in the regular season last year.