Matt Kemp, Tony Gwynn Jr. tried to lure Prince Fielder to Dodgers
Matt Kemp said he actively recruited Prince Fielder over the winter and was convinced he would be in the same lineup as the former home-run champion in the upcoming season.
“I was getting real confident in our chances of getting him,” Kemp said.
Kemp said he spoke to Fielder several times.
“I knew we were getting pretty close,” he said. “I didn’t know Detroit was in.”
The Detroit Tigers responded to a potentially season-ending injury to Victor Martinez by sweeping in with a last-minute, nine-year, $214-million offer that Fielder accepted. The Dodgers had offered Fielder a seven-year deal worth around $160 million.
Tony Gwynn Jr. jokingly said he would accept responsibility.
“You can blame it on me, for sure,” Gwynn said.
