Kemp arrives at A’s camp, claims of Astros’ sign-stealing: ‘I said no’
MESA, ARIZ. >> Tony Kemp isn’t one to make a grand entrance upon arrival to a new team. The 28-year-old new Oakland Athletic will take introductions slow, teammate by teammate.
But one A’s player took Kemp aside on his own. Pitcher Mike Fiers wanted to talk with his former Houston Astros teammate — a teammate with whom he celebrated a 2017 World Series title. They talked it out.
“I understand where he comes from,” Kemp said. “He’s my teammate now and teammate in Houston and nothing changes.”
Fiers, still mum on the fallout from his whistleblowing, said Kemp is “a guy everyone is going to love,” but wouldn’t discuss the chat further.
In 2017, Kemp was still trying to find his big league footing when the Astros called him up that September. He was slashing .273/.334/.362 with Triple-A Fresno, feeling good about his swing.
Upon his arrival to Minute Maid Park, someone with the Astros approached him about the sign-stealing system. Kemp says he
turned them down.
“In ’17 that was my choice. I had four, five months under my belt in the big leagues and at the time I felt like I didn’t want to use it. I’m not going to sit here and say bad things about the guys that did it.”
Kemp added that he wasn’t sure how long “the deal” had been operating in Houston when he got there. But he wanted to keep his head down.
“It was one of those things that was out of my hands
at that point, having four months in the big leagues,” he said. “Once it was going, I was asked if I wanted to use the system and I said no.”
Kemp noted that, in his time with Houston, the Astros were frequently most concerned with the A’s — always battling and always on their divisional tail. Kemp and first baseman Matt Olson formed a bond several years ago. The infield pair already have a treasure of 4-3 reps banked from their time as teammates in the 2015 Futures Game.
“He’s a big target and a big body over there,” Kemp said. “Every time we’d play Oakland I’d mess with him
and say ‘Hey, how ya doin’?’ and he’d say ‘Don’t try to mess me up.’ ”
“Olson’s always been a good dude. I think that he’s worked tremendously hard on his Gold Gloves and the way he plays the game. That’s how you play the right way. He’s done some great things with his hands.”
The two should be banking more 4-3 putouts in 2020; Kemp, a left-handed bat, will be vying for a role as a platoon option at second base and the outfield this year. His positional versatility should make him a strong bench option.