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Dodgers to agent: Kemp not being shopped

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Dodgers told Matt Kemp's agent Wednesday that they have no plans to trade the outfielder.

"They said he's not moving him, but I put in the words 'for the time being' because you never know," said agent Dave Stewart. "Somebody could come along and overwhelm them with a player or players or a combination of players that might make it worth their while to do something that's going to help the team."

Last week, general manager Ned Colletti confirmed he was listening to offers on four outfielders -- Kemp, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig -- and rumors quickly centered on Kemp.

But other clubs were reluctant to make serious offers until Kemp's health is established. He is recovering from surgery on a broken left ankle and a second operation on his left shoulder.

"The highest team on him is us," Colletti said. "We know him and we love him."

Kemp is expected to be able to hit and throw at the start of Spring Training, but running will come later. Stewart said Kemp is "right on track" to be ready by Opening Day.

Until Kemp is healthy, the Dodgers don't have a surplus of outfielders to trade. And when healthy, in Stewart's opinion, Kemp should be the last outfielder the Dodgers want to trade.

"I'll say this, and this is me talking: A healthy Matt Kemp is better than anybody they've got playing center field," said Stewart. "So they may play four outfielders, but if he's healthy, he's not going to be a platoon guy. I'm saying that.

"The only reason why his numbers haven't been what they're capable of being is because he's been hurt. You look at his last healthy season, he almost produced an MVP. He should have been MVP. So if he's healthy, which we have no reason to believe he's not going to be healthy, he's going to play center field every day and then they can figure out what they want to do with the other three."

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com.
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