Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp said Tuesday that he is shooting for a 50-50 season in 2012.

Kemp hit 39 homers and stole 40 bases this season, finishing second to Ryan Braun for the National League MVP award. “I’m going to go 50-50 next year,” said Kemp “I’m telling you, y’all created a monster. I’m about to get back in the weight room super tough so I can be as strong as I was last year. ? Forty-forty is tough, so 50-50 will be even tougher, but anything can happen. I have to set my limits high so I can try to get to them as much as I can. I’m going to try for 50-50, which has never been done.” We think 50-50 might be a little unrealistic, but fantasy owners will be plenty satisfied if he comes anywhere close to his production from 2011.

Dodgers signed OF Matt Kemp to an eight-year, $160 million contract extension.

The deal is now official. Kemp will earn $10 million in 2012, $20 million in 2013, $21 million per year from 2014-2015, and $21.5 million per year from 2016-2019, in addition to a $2 million signing bonus. The 27-year-old fell just shy of joining the 40-40 club this past season, batting .324 with a .986 OPS, 39 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 126 RBI in 161 games.

According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Dodgers and center fielder Matt Kemp have reached agreement on an eight-year, $160 million contract extension.

The contract — which is, for the moment, the richest in National League history — will be made official once Kemp passes a physical later this week. The 27-year-old outfielder batted .324 with a .986 OPS, 39 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 126 RBI in 161 games this season. If he remains that productive through 2019, it’ll be a steal of a deal for the Los Angeles front office. But, as with any player, that’s a major if.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Dodgers and Matt Kemp are engaging in serious discussions on an eight-year extension worth $160 million.

Kemp is currently scheduled to become a free agent after the 2012 season, and the Dodgers want to lock him up long-term before he even gets a whiff of what might be available to him on the open market. $20 million per year over the course of eight years should do the trick. Kemp batted .324 with a .986 OPS, 39 homers, 40 steals and 126 RBI in 161 games this past season.

Matt Kemp’s agent, Dave Stewart, is optimistic that the Dodgers will reach an extension with his client.

“I don’t think that it’s going to be difficult, I really don’t,” Stewart said Wednesday. “I think we should be able to come to something. I have talked with [general manager] Ned [Colletti] on a few occasions. We have covered some ground.” Kemp is set to become a free agent after the 2012 season. He batted .324 with a .986 OPS, 39 homers, 40 steals and 126 RBI in 161 games this year.

According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, Frank McCourt has agreed to sell the Dodgers.

Finally, some light at the end of the tunnel for Dodgers’ fans. According to Shaikin, the team will be auctioned off in bankruptcy court. We’re awaiting details on the exact nature of the agreement, but it’s expected that a sale would command a record asking price exceeding $1 billion. Stay tuned.

According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, Frank McCourt is close to an agreement with MLB on a bankruptcy settlement in which he would agree to sell the Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ bankruptcy trial was recently postponed for a month so that McCourt and MLB could discuss the possibility of a settlement and sale. Negotiations are fluid, but Shaikin writes that the deal would likely include Dodger Stadium and the surrounding parking lots in a package which could command a record asking price of $1 billion or more. Stay tuned.