The Angels have reached an agreement with Howie Kendrick on a four-year contract, the team announced. The deal is worth $33.5MM, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times tweets. It will cover the 28-year-old's final year of arbitration and first three years of free agency.
Kendrick is coming off of his best season to date as he hit .285/.338/.464 with 18 homers in 583 plate appearances. Earlier this week, GM Jerry Dipoto confirmed that he opened up talks with the agents for Kendrick and Erick Aybar. Like Kendrick, Aybar also has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
Last night, our own Mark Polishuk examined the second baseman's case for an extension. According to MLBTR's projections, Kendrick was set to earn $5.2MM in 2012 through arbitration.
By signing an extension with the Angels, Kendrick avoids having to contend with fellow second baseman Brandon Phillips on the open market next offseason.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the deal and Bob Nightengale of USA Today added the contract value.
Should be under $40 million. Otherwise the Halos made a mistake. IMO
There’s really not that many significantly better options out there, at least that they Angels can get, and Howie still has some upside. Jerry Dipoto really looks like he knows what he’s doing. Great move.
Oh also, Howard’s TV got their mascot locked up for 4 more painful years.
you think he has upside beyond 6 WAR? i doubt that
still a good deal assuming a reasonable salary, but he’s likelier to be a 3-4 WAR guy going forward than 5-6
I understand your point. But I watched most of the games last year, and Howie always hit the ball hard, but right at someone. I guess he’s just a really unlucky dude, but if some of those lines fell, his numbers would be much higher. But numbers don’t lie, so maybe Howie was meant to be a 3-4 war guy. I’m just saying, he has a legitimate chance at being better.
Howie is about to be that 5 WAR guy, defense pulling him to either side by half a win. He still strikes out too much, but that 33.5M (my yearly guess is 5-8-9-10, 1.5M bonus) seems just fine.
At 33.5M, this is a pretty sweet deal. Also, I don’t wanna seem TOO optimistic, but yes, Kendrick did strike out a lot. BUT his problem was the slow stuff. He could handle fastballs, but his sweet swing would always be messed up by a curve or a change. Why do I bring this up? If Kendrick was to bat in front of Pujols (which I hope he will, I think he could be the one to do the most damage) I think its a fair assumption that he would see more fastballs, in which case I would hope he’d put up even better numbers.
At 33.5M, this is a pretty sweet deal. Also, I don’t wanna seem TOO optimistic, but yes, Kendrick did strike out a lot. BUT his problem was the slow stuff. He could handle fastballs, but his sweet swing would always be messed up by a curve or a change. Why do I bring this up? If Kendrick was to bat in front of Pujols (which I hope he will, I think he could be the one to do the most damage) I think its a fair assumption that he would see more fastballs, in which case I would hope he’d put up even better numbers.
strikeouts will be waaaaay down hitting in front of Pujols. Everything else will go up. Several career years coming. Guy absolutely mashes fastballs, and he’s going to see a ton of fastballs.
The Mlbtr team makes a contract extension post about Howie Kendrick and then less than a full day the Angels extend him.
Someone throw them a cookie for that…
Psychic.
Thanks to this lady, I’ll never believe in psychics again…
HA!
A day or 2 before this post DiPoto said that they had contacted Aybar and Kendricks agent for extension talks, so might as well throw DiPoto a cookie too
Im cool with it, I can easily see him improve to being a .300 hitter with 15-20HR’s/year. I am very glad to see another homegrown talent signed to a multi-year deal.(Weaver)
Love it. Howie is a very solid player, just entering his prime. Great to have him locked in for the next 4 years
This is a great deal for the Halos now the right side of the infield is signed 4 yrs now get Aybar signed and find a 3rd baseman
Solid move. M’s are going to be in a hole this year for sure if they don’t get a bat or two.
Good move by the Angels, he’s a quality 2nd basemen, and those are really hard to find.
Now work a deal with Aybar.
Aybar isn’t nearly as important. I’d rather trade him for value and start Izturis.
Talking strictly money and not taking into account Kendricks preferences and security, this may turn out to be a poor financial decision on his part.
I love you Dipoto!
I concur with the majority of posts commending this move. Guessing like everybody else around 4/35. Very good deal for the Angels to lock up arguably the 2nd best 2B in the game.
good move by the angels.. especially with the news that its around 4/33.5.
As for aybar… if they dont get him at a good price id hate to say it but let him walk
Arbitration has killed baseball. Mediocre players making 4-5 million a year. Before arbitration they would be lucky to make the minimum salary.
Howie Kendrick is mediocre?
Apparently a 5.8 WAR is mediocre.
FACT: Owners are billionaires.
If the players weren’t making the money it would be in some owner’s pockets.
Good move. It’s hard to find quality second basemen on the open market. Time to lock up Aybar.
This is what I would prefer(Trumbo at 3b)
Bourjos
Kendrick
Pujols
Morales
Hunter
Wells
Trumbo
Iannetta
Aybar
Once Bourjos learns how to bunt and take a walk consistently and then learns how to steal bases then watch out he could be a real force as leadoff..
Learns how to bunt? I think Aybar and Bourjos were the best bunters in the league last year (in terms of hits), but i could definitely be wrong. I would also argue that Bourjos could steal a ton of bases but IMO Scioscia kinda held him up and needs to just give him the green light a la Figgins
Look at a guy like Abreu- not the fastest guy but he knows how to steal if that is a “thing”… With Pete’s speed as soon as he learns how to read pitchers and defenses then its 40, 50+ SB seasons for him. When he learns that then he will get the green light from Sciosc…edit- upon further review yes Bourjos had plenty of bunt hits last year…
Um, Trout’s ready to be an all star now and LAA is primed to win now and can use another all star. Wells is the 4th OF. Trumbo is worthless at everything in baseball except hitting HR, just trade him before the league figures it out. Callaspo is about 10000 times better a 3B than him.
Trumbo was a rookie, give him a chance 29HR’s and 89(?87?) rib’s says that he should be given a chance to figure it out…
RBIs are useless. The guy can’t get on base to save his life. He needs to at least hit league average, while maintaining power, to be considered anything but Mike Jacobs
Another Big Contract to the Angels payroll.
Another Big Contract to the Angels payroll.
Another Big Contract to the Angels payroll.
for the next year- yes.. but think of how many are coming off the books in few years… for example hunter and abreu coming off next year
for the next year- yes.. but think of how many are coming off the books in few years… for example hunter and abreu coming off next year
Yeah it’s nice to have a $150mil/year tv contract and 3mil+ attendance every year… Oh and a billionaire owner(not a ownership group) it is nice…
Yeah it’s nice to have a $150mil/year tv contract and 3mil+ attendance every year… Oh and a billionaire owner(not a ownership group) it is nice…
The Angels just got a new TV contract for 150 million a year more than they had, I think they can afford it.
DiPoto FTW!
(I don’t know what that means but I always see my kid type it when something groovy happens.)
It means Fairy Tale Wedding, not sure that applies here … or maybe it does
It means Fairy Tale Wedding, not sure that applies here … or maybe it does
Please disregard any fairy tale [weddings] you may hear about (uh, that means you too, @facebook-1369500443:disqus!) :p
It means “For The Win!”
[I was kidding. But thanks for the help. LOL (Laughing Out Loud)]
Ha!
That’s what I get for not asking for a sarcasm detector for Christmas! :p
DiPoto FTW!
(I don’t know what that means but I always see my kid type it when something groovy happens.)
I still can’t believe how no one ever talks about Ben Zobrist. He’s one of the top 5 players in the game according to every statistical category.
While it’s still shocking, I can think of a number of reasons.
He plays in TB, which still garnishes a fair amount of national attention what with 30+ games a year vs Boston/NY, and because TB has been successful the last few years. But it’s safe to say he wouldn’t have flown under the radar had he played in a big market from the get-go.
He’s overshadowed on his own team by the likes of Longoria/Shields/Price and even Moore/Jennings now, in terms of media attention and star power. He was never a heralded top draft pick, never made a top 10 prospects list (don’t quote me on this, i’m too tired to look up BaseballAmerica’s 2005-2006 list for Houston, the team he was drafted by).
He doesn’t have any real flare to his game. He’s a grinder/hustler/hard worker, which some people resonate with, but the vast majority of fans like the Cano’s of the world…guys who carry themselves with a certain swagger.
I may be going out on a limb here, but I think Maddon’s utilitarian use of Zobrist also hurts his recognition severely. I think many fans that are, how do i put this, sabermetrically-challenged, simply view him as an everyday utility player.
I agree with all that, but think he hits too many HRs to be called a grinder/hustler, those terms are used for small in stature (usually white for some weird/racist reason) guys who have crappy stats. He has beastly stats across the board. His BA is clearly defined by rises and falls in BABIP, he’s gotta be close to the most 5 tool player in the game.
Top five in every statistical category is definitely a stretch. He’s good, no doubt, but that is a serious exaggeration.
Where does it say top 5 in every statistical category?
In your original comment that I responded to, you said “He’s one of the top 5 players in the game according to every statistical category.”
Underrated, but which of these players is he better than?:
Pujols
Cabrera
Kemp
Braun
Votto
etc…
Good deal for the Angels. I think Kendrick could potentially be leaving some good $$ on the table, because i think he is going to have a big year hitting in front of Pujols. Wouldn’t surprise me if he hit .320, hits 20 homers and scores 100 runs.
Good deal for the Angels. I think Kendrick could potentially be leaving some good $$ on the table, because i think he is going to have a big year hitting in front of Pujols. Wouldn’t surprise me if he hit .320, hits 20 homers and scores 100 runs.
Aaron Hill is better…
Aaron Hill is better…
Uh… no.
2011 Kendrick – 5.8 WAR
Nice! Hope his acting improves though. Some of those local Howard’s TV commercials are a little tough to watch.
I think the angels are overated. Their offense last year was terrible, this year with pujols it might be average. They have a nice rotation but the bullpen isnt that good. The Texas offense is loaded beyond belief and they have a decent pitching staff and bullpen. The angels will miss the playoffs because of a lack of offense and texas will win the west again.
Solid analysis.
The Rangers were a whopping 5 games ahead of the Angels as late as Sept 22nd. The last week the Rangers got hot and the Angels went cold.
Since then the Angels have added the best hitter in baseball AND stole the Rangers top starting pitcher. Oh yeah – that black hole at C has been filled. Overall the Angels are much better while the Rangers have gotten worse. I think the teams are pretty close. Pretty hard to say that either team is clearly better.
You’re all forgetting that Howie also sells big screen TVs on the side. Juggling that along with being a MLB caliber 2B makes him best 2B in the game!!
Great signing good to know the angels have him for another 4 years