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MLB
Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp's arthritic hips hold up deal with Padres

Bob Nightengale
USA TODAY Sports
Matt Kemp hit .287 with 25 homers and 89 RBI over 599 at-bats in 2014.

The San Diego Padres are trying to decide whether to finalize or void their blockbuster 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.

The person spoke to USA TODAY only on the condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to discuss the medical issue.

The Padres and Dodgers agreed to a trade a week ago that would send Kemp, catcher Tim Federowicz and $32 million to San Diego for catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitching prospects Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin.

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 decide to void the trade, then the Dodgers would also have to re-work their trade with the Philadelphia Phillies that was sending shortstop Jimmy Rollins to Los Angeles for a package that included Eflin.

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The two teams have a deadline of Thursday to complete the deal.

If the Kemp deal falls apart, it could possibly impact the three-player deal agreed to Wednesday by the Padres, Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays. In that trade, the Padres receive catcher Ryan Hanigan from the Rays.

Were Grandal to return to the Padres, it's likely they would not want Hanigan as well, although that deal certainly could be altered to suit the three parties.

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.

Kemp, 30, hit 17 homers and 58 RBI in the second half of last season. But it's his recent history that raises a red flag. Since he nearly won the 2011 National League MVP, he has had a rash of injuries.

In 2012, he missed 51 games -- spanning two disabled list stints -- with a strained left hamstring.

In 2013, he injured his right hamstring and played only 73 games.

With Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and top prospect Joc Pederson, the Dodgers had a backlog of outfielders. At mid-season, Kemp's trade value was not particularly high, given the five-plus years and more than $107 million left on his deal.

But Kemp's strong second half made him the Dodgers' most viable trade chip, and they did not hesitate to deal him within the division, to a Padres team clearly motivated to remake their lineup under new general manager A.J. Preller.

Now, the teams will seek resolution in the wake of Kemp's physical results. That could include the Dodgers including more cash, or if the Padres can obtain an insurance policy on Kemp's deal, among other options.

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