GOODYEAR Tim Tebow Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — A week after outfielder Matt Kemp was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Cincinnati Reds, he got a sideline pass for Oklahoma basketball game and had a chance meeting with another Oklahoma native: Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench.“It was pretty cool,” Kemp said. “It just so happened that I just got traded to Cincinnati. It was only right to sit there and chat with him for a while.”Kemp learned firsthand about some of the Reds’ history after he was included in their biggest offseason trade. Cincinnati acquired Kemp, left-hander Alex Wood, Yasiel Puig and Kyle Farmer for Homer Bailey and minor leaguers Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray on Dec. 21. It was the fourth time the 34-year old outfielder was traded, but this one was unique given that he wasn’t alone going to a new team.“Transitioning every time is different,” he said, as the Reds opened camp with their first workout by catchers and pitchers. “I think this time it is easier. I’ve got a couple guys here who I played with last year. So far so good.”Kemp joins a Reds team with a changed outfield after center fielder Billy Hamilton was allowed to go free and signed with Kansas City. Left fielder Adam Duvall was traded to Atlanta last year.Kemp won Gold Gloves in 2009 and 2011. Last season in 149 games, Kemp played the corner outfield positions. He and Puig join incumbent Jesse Winker, who had shoulder surgery midway through 2018, and Scott Schebler and Philip Ervin in competing for playing time.Kemp batted .290 with 21 home runs and 85 RBIs last season. He was one of seven Dodgers with 20 or more home runs as LA won the National League title but lost to the Boston Red Sox in five games.He is seven seasons removed from 2011 Jay Bruce Jersey , when he led the NL with 39 home runs and 126 RBIs for the Dodgers. Kemp signed a $160 million, eight-year contract and since has been dealt to San Diego, Atlanta, back to the Dodgers and then to the Reds. He and Puig can become free agents after the season, so their time in Cincinnati could be limited.Kemp has a .289 average with 10 homers in 36 games at Great American Ball Park. After four straight 90-loss seasons, the Reds are looking to be more competitive in the NL Central with their overhauled roster.“I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Kemp said. SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eric Hosmer, San Diego’s $144 million man, acknowledges he simply wasn’t as good as he needed to be in what was supposed to be a steppingstone season for the rebuilding Padres.The burst of energy provided by Hosmer’s signing during spring training didn’t last long. The Padres, who have had three waves of young talent come up since beginning their deep rebuild during the 2016 season, staggered through another dismal year http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/a … ney-jersey , finishing last in the NL West at 66-96, five losses worse than in 2017.Hosmer’s average of .253 was down 65 points and his on-base percentage was his lowest in four seasons. His 18 homers and 65 RBIs were also his lowest in four seasons.“Not where I want to be,” said Hosmer, who was an All-Star and World Series champion while with Kansas City. “It was just a down year, definitely not the way I wanted to perform here the first year. Nothing I can do about it now. All I can do is go put in the work in the offseason and try to be ready to go next spring.“There’s no excuse for it, I just didn’t perform the way I wanted to perform. I think if I performed the way I wanted to, it translates into more wins.”It certainly wasn’t all Hosmer’s fault, considering that the Padres continued to rank at the bottom of the majors in key offensive stats.Also struggling was Wil Myers, whose $83 million, six-year extension had been the biggest contract in team history until Hosmer came along. Myers had yet another injury and struggled after being moved from the outfield to third base.And in an oh-so-Padres moment, Myers was heard criticizing manager Andy Green during a livestream of the video game Fortnite with Carlos Asuaje http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic … ier-jersey , who had been optioned to Triple-A late in the season.“The Padres are doing cutoff and relays tomorrow at 3 o’clock — in September, dude.” Myers was heard saying. “Oh my God. It’s so miserable, man. It’s insane. Andy could not be any worse than he is right now.”Asuaje then said, “Dude, I’m streaming this.”Myers apologized to Green. Around that same time, he also committed three errors in a game.Other things to know in the wake of the Padres’ eighth straight losing season and 12th year out of the playoffs:TIMETABLERon Fowler, the executive chairman, had said he expected the Padres to be better this season than last, and to be .500 in 2019.“I’m not going to throw out record stuff anymore,” Fowler said. However, he heard general manager A.J. Preller say during a function for season ticketholders that gradual improvement will lead to a tipping point. “And I leaned over to him and said David Wright Jersey , ‘I’m an old guy. Let’s get to the tipping point sooner rather than later.’ He laughed. He thinks we’re closer than people think. Whether that means next year or sometime in 2020, I think we’ve got the talent.”BIG DECISIONSWith so much young talent in the farm system, particularly pitchers, the Padres have to decide who to protect on the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft. And with the big league roster, there are decisions to make at several positions. They need to figure out if they’ll keep Myers at third, try to get him back into a crowded outfield or try to trade him, although his value is low. Outfielder Hunter Renfroe solidified his status by hitting 26 homers again and rookie Franmil Reyes hit 16 homers. Franchy Cordero is due back from elbow surgery.FREDDY GALVISThe Padres want to keep the shortstop, who is eligible for free agency but might want to move on with top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. set to come up sometime next season. Galvis was acquired from Philadelphia for prospect Enyel De Los Santos and played in all 162 games, including 157 starts at shortstop and five at second base. Viewed as a placeholder for Tatis, Galvis solidified the position and was a mentor to several young Latino players.TATIS JR.He broke his left thumb sliding headfirst for Double-A San Antonio in July and has been cleared to play winter ball. While the Padres will certainly control his service-time clock, “Everybody in our baseball front office would be shocked if he wasn’t up here somewhat early in the season http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic … ler-jersey ,” Fowler said.WAVES OF YOUNG TALENTLeft-handed starters Joey Lucchesi and Eric Lauer, plus right-hander Jacob Nix made their big league debuts this year. Coming up late in the year were rookie second baseman Luis Urias, who showed nice flashes in the field and at the plate before injuring a hamstring. Also coming up was catcher Francisco Mejia, obtained from Cleveland for All-Star closer Brad Hand and reliever Adam Cimber. The Padres could try to find room for both Mejia and Austin Hedges, or trade one of them.