GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp said Tuesday that he doesn't believe he should be given the National League Most Valuable Player Award if the actual winner of the award, Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, loses his appeal of a 50-game suspension for a positive performance-enhancing drug test.

Kemp finished second to Braun in balloting for the award by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, which already has said the award will stay with Braun no matter how his appeal is resolved.

"I feel like that would be by default," said Kemp, who already is in spring training several days before the Dodgers' position players are required to report. "I wish I would've won it just by them voting me and me being the MVP. That would be special. But hopefully, I will have the same type of year or even better and win it straight up this year, with us making the playoffs."

Kemp expressed concern for what Braun is going through.

"It's an unfortunate situation," he said. "I still don't know what is going to happen. I know Braun. We have always been cool, and we have been friends. He is one of my favorite players in the big leagues. I hope it's not true, but I don't think it's for me or any of [the media] to decide. Only he knows for sure, and I don't know what the outcome is going to be."

Kemp also said he tried hard to recruit his good friend, free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, to the Dodgers last winter before Fielder ultimately accepted a nine-year, $214 million contract from the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers reportedly offered Fielder a seven-year, $160 million deal that Fielder could have voided after the fifth year.