With speculation circling that Matt Kemp will sign a 8-year $160 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and an ESPN report stating that the Dodgers and Kemp’s agent are “moving in a positive direction and that he is optimistic an agreement will be reached,” I started thinking about some comments that Kemp’s agent, Dave Stewart, made to the media in the past. Whereas this week, Stewart is talking about positive and productive discussions with the Dodgers, little over a year ago, Stewart’s tone was quite the opposite.
On August 21, 2010, T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times wrote an article titled, “Matt Kemp’s agent is an albatross around his neck.” The title is mild compared to the first sentence of the piece, which reads, “Matt Kemp has a problem, one as big as his own half-hearted play at times and inability to hit an outside pitch — his agent Dave Stewart.” Simers alleged that Stewart wrote the following to the LA Times: “Do you think for one moment I care about the town of L.A. or the fans there?”
I have a feeling that Stewart’s attitude has changed, with the Dodgers contemplating giving Kemp a hefty contract offer.
