The Dodgers have reached agreement on a two-year deal with second baseman Howie Kendrick, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Kendrick gets a $20MM guarantee over the two years, Jon Heyman tweets.
With the move, Los Angeles will sacrifice its chance to tack on an additional draft selection. Kendrick, 32, turned down a $15.8MM qualifying offer from the club earlier in the offseason. As MLBTR’s Steve Adams explained earlier today, the Dodgers stood to increase their draft pool had Kendrick headed elsewhere.
Instead, the club will add Kendrick right back into a crowded mix of position players. Presumably, he’ll see the bulk of the time at second, displacing an anticipated Enrique Hernandez/Chase Utley platoon. But Hernandez could also spell Corey Seager at short and Joc Pederson in center, while Utley can not only spend time at second but also might fill in for Justin Turner at third. Players such as Micah Johnson, Charlie Culberson, and Alex Guerrero could also feature in the infield mix.
Coming into the winter, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes had predicted that Kendrick could land $50MM over four years. Clearly, he stands to fall well shy of that after his market failed to develop as anticipated. It’s not difficult to see that market developments played a huge role, along with the qualifying offer.
The older Ben Zobrist hit on a $56MM guarantee, besting his own projection. He didn’t carry draft compensation requirements since he was traded in mid-season. Meanwhile, the younger but also QO-bound Daniel Murphy came closer to his expectations with a three-year, $37.5MM pact. But Kendrick was left without an obvious place as the board began to clear. As Steve Adams and I discussed just yesterday on the MLBTR podcast, even the best apparent landing spots all had complications. Indeed, he’ll ultimately take home a guarantee that barely tops that reached by the less-accomplished Asdrubal Cabrera.
At the end of the day, the acquisition cost was much lower than Los Angeles paid the last time they added Kendrick. The Dodgers sent young lefty Andrew Heaney last year for Kendrick (and his $9.5MM salary). And as the qualifying offer shows, the team was willing to pay him over three-quarters of the total value of his new contract for just one season.
As things shook out, it looks like a nice get for the depth-focused Dodgers. While Kendrick dealt with some injuries late last year, and is certainly not the youngest open market option, he’s been a steadily excellent performer for quite some time. Since taking over full-time duties at second with the Angels back in 2010, Kendrick has carried a sturdy .289/.332/.418 batting line. And he’s rarely varied too far from that production level, making him one of the more reliably above-average hitters in the league.
It’s been a while since Kendrick put up his career best of 18 long balls, but he’s a reasonable bet to approach or exceed double digits in that area. And the same holds in the stolen base department, though he’s more of an average overall baserunner than a plus in that area. It’s tough to judge the defensive component for the respected veteran. Kendrick undoubtedly slipped last year, with roundly negative overall glovework in the eyes of both UZR and DRS. But he’s generally been at least an average defender over his career, and even if his loss of range proves permanent, he is still reliable on more easily-made plays.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Might be good Hendricks is good but to much talent that’s why the Dodgers won’t win
what?
Grammar is overrated.
It’s good to be good. Not very tough to understand. It’s all good.
Me fail english? That’s unpossible.
Who’s Hendricks?
A combo of Hernandez and Kendrick….haha
hmm a fairly crowded infield but hey, thats a good problem to have for the dodgers
That what I said. But allows guys to get breathers without sacrificing much offensively and defensively.
Bad signing , the dbacks could of used his bat
Yea… what a terrible idea – keeping a good player away from a division rival!
Yes, they could have…but they couldn;t find a sucker for Hill’s contract
Why would the Dodgers want the D-backs to have him instead?
because they already snagged greinke away
Confused on how it would be a good idea for Dodgers to let D-Backs sign away Greinke and Kendrick…. Besides, 2yrs at 20MM is a steal for the Dodgers on this guy. Anybody who has watched him play, especially an Angels fan, should know that. Give me a break!!!!
So how does that justify a bad signing for the Dodgers?
So absolutely confused with this comment and referring to wanting D’Backs sign him. How does Grienke play in?
You’re making Angels fans look really dumb….
For two years and let’s say even $25m, he would have been worth it for the DBacks. The only thing stopping them I think was giving up another draft pick. Never the less, I think Chris Owings will hit a lot better this year than he did last season.
Great deal for the Dodgers, Kendrick is a solid 2B. Utley at this stage of career is better suited for a utility role at 2B/3B/1B. Albeit an expensive one. Micah Johnson is trade bait, just like when the Dodgers aquired Jose Peraza from the Braves.
great move by Dodgers. They probably realized he wasn’t going to be signed until June when his pick is gone. Dodgers can trade him or one of their infielders.
Not until June.
Which team was going to give up the pick for him?
nice i couldnt imagine utley playing 80+games for us
Starting* 80+
Heard its for $20 million. Great deal. Wonder if he regrets not taking the $15.8 million qualifying offer.
The Dodgers are just buying everyone
hope this is sarcasm
Haha buying everyone you say? Considering no one wanted Madea and everyone was hung up on The QO for Kendrick, I would hardly say buying everyone. Buying everyone would be what the Yankees did with McCann and Ellsbury.
Guess what team is the only one in all of baseball NOT to sign a free agent this off season?!?! The Yankees.
This is NOT the same management style we’ve seen since 1975. This is a responsible ownership with an eye on winning without trying outspend the Red Sox and most recently, the Dodgers. Developing players as we watch these older contracts expire in the next few years is exciting for Yankee fans….
Really? Let’s just look at 2014/2015/2016 and see how that new Yankee fiscal restraint is working out.
Yankees
2014 – $483M
2015 – $100M
2016 – $0M
Dodgers
2014 – $105M
2015 – $76M
2016 – $96M
Red Sox
2014 – $76M
2015 – $214M
2016 – $230M
BONUS Team – Angels … a team that really is showing fiscal restraint over the last 3 years:
2014 – $18M
2015 – $8M
2016 – $9M
You add it all up and from a FA perspective over the past 3 off-seasons you get:
1. Yankees: $583M
2. Red Sox: $520M
3. Dodgers: $277M
4. Angels: $35M
Of course, the Dodgers and Angels have extended significant extensions to their pre-FA players (Kershaw and Trout). But from a pure FA perspective, the Yankees have spent more money than the Red Sox. They have doubled the money spent by BOTH LA teams.
They may not “buying” every player they want like they used to but their FA spending is still the envy of virtually every club in baseball.
I believe you missed Kuroda and perhaps a Brendan Ryan-type or two. I think the Yanks cracked $500m that year.
I think what everyone is forgetting is how much money is free after 18 offseason which is 45 mill, 35 mill of that is Kershaw. In terms of prospects the Dodgers are up there. Top heavy, sure but with the names that are right there it’s exciting to see the young talent aka Seager, Pederson, Urias, DeLeon, Montas, Cotton, Barnes, Rhame (Thompson and Johnson are somewhat exciting) the list goes on. Clubs and FOs are starting to understand the old Yankee buy a ring doesn’t work. The old Yankee and Royals model where you build from within does.
Just like the Yankees bought everyone for years, but the Dodgers are somewhat smarter about it.
Isn’t that the exact reason they got Friedman and Co?
The Dodger FO gets a lot of flack but their depth is insane. Thats how you win, not panicking later when you have a void on the field.
Some things never get old, but this does.
What would Kike get in a return of traded?
Kike isn’t going anywhere. He’s LA’s version of Zobrist
Kike is not the Dodgers’ starting second baseman or one of their best players; he is a guy they signed two past-their-prime dudes to play over.
Idk but trade him to the Angels please
Great deal for the Dodgers. Not only does it make them excellent at 2b, but it frees up Hernandez to shore up several other positions as needed.
Now to get someone to take Alex Guerrero.
Yankees have bought some players and have had a lot of success doing it. Dodgers have done it ×10 the last few years and haven’t done anything, they should be embarrassed. Both franchises are bad for baseball
Buying players they haven’t signed a 100 mill contract since Kershaw. What they are doing in Cuba is what teams do in the Domincan. It’s more expensive because those players are older. Not only the FO is inheriting bad contracts and trying get out of them. They are doing a good job of it. It’s 250 this year it’ll be around 200 next year.
The last few years…..the Dodgers biggest FA acquisition was Greinke who was signed to a market deal. The rest of their signings have minimal. Nice try though
A good part of this signing was so Arizona didn’t get him. Very crowded infield but that’s never a bad thing. I mean utley could be suspended for who knows how long…
But for the D’backs, why not check out Rollins?? He can play SS and 2B and can put some speed on the base paths and hit leadoff. Yes he’s older but he still has talent
Definitely agree.. J-Roll, at the very worst, can provide some leadership to a really young team.
For one this seems unnecessary.
For two I’m amazed that Kendrick couldn’t get more than two years. Being the model of consistency that he is you’d think someone would find the reliability appealing for a 3 or 4 year deal.
Unnecessary? All the reasons you stated and you don’t get the move?
Not unnecessary at all once you look deeper into it.
Turner is a great player, but he’s only going to give you 120-ish games at 3B, so you need someone who can cover over there.
Signing Howie (with Utley as the main backup) allows Kike’ to spell J.T. at 3B without missing out all that much — especially against lefties.
Hernandez is Mr Double-Switch. He can play anywhere at any time, especially now that he isn’t stuck in a platoon at 2B. The depth chart at 2B now reads: Kendrick, Utley, Hernandez. At 3B it’s Turner, Utley, Hernandez. Dave Roberts has to feel a lot better about his roster today than he did yesterday. For sure this Dodger fan does. I might just have to flip my cap back over.
You label Kendrick as a “model of consistency” and then say that getting on a 2 year deal is unnecessary?
Wow 10 mil per year, for a guy that hits just under .300. Howie would have been better off taking the qualified offer, now the Dodgers get him for another year for 4.4 mil more. Nice job front office, you’re making a nice comeback
Tough break for Micah Johnson. Great kid with all the tools to become a premium MLB lead-off hitter but has had an unfortunate injury history that relegates him to only 2B or the DH position.
Maybe the White Sox can find a taker for Adam Laroche, then reacquire Johnson back from the Dodgers and give him a shot at the DH spot. Johnson and Adam Eaton would have the potential to give the White Sox a dynamic duo atop the their batting order, ahead of sluggers Jose Abreu, Todd Frazier and hopefully one more slugging corner OF yet to be acquired for the 2016 season.
If either of Utley or Kendrick go on the DL during the season Johnson will probably get the call.
The Dodgers are stockpiling second baseman, outfielders and Cubans like it’s nobody’s business. (lol)
And it’s nobody’s business if they do.
Very nice depth move by the FO.
I mean, sure, I’d have liked that draft pick, but getting Howie’s age 32 and 33 seasons for a paltry $20M is just as good.
Depth move for one of their infields that go down with an injury or just don’t work out. If there were no draft pick attached, I would have enjoyed seeing Kendrick on the Yankees.
Great deal for the Dodgers. Kendrick is a no brainer 2+ fWAR player. I’m shocked that he was landed for such a paltry sum.
It was a really bad call to forgo the QA. I get why he did it (especially after seeing what Kennedy landed from the Royals) but wow. That decision costs him millions. Unless he is injured heading into next season there is no scenario where we would have earned $4M or less.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a bad signing or not. Budget issue is never an issue to them
I have a burning question as a Giants fan who only watches the Dodgers a handful of times a year; why doesn’t Turner play every day? the guy rakes and plays solid defense, why doesn’t the management try to develop him into a guy who plays every day? it seems like he could be a top 50 player if he played every day
Struggles with injuries and hitting against lefties.
He’s had some injury problems, and struggles a bit against lefties. That said, this will be his first year which he’ll start as the #1 3B from day 1 of ST, so maybe this will be his breakout year. Before, he was technically depth to spot Uribe and 2B.
He hasn’t have experience playing everyday. He was a utility player when he was with the Mets. So it’s hard for Turner to play everyday and with his age and knee injury. He will be more than a 4-5 day stater per week.
The Mets let him go because they didn’t see him as being durable enough to be an everyday player. Not sure the Dodgers have proven the Mets entirely wrong on that aspect of Turner’s physique.
Whoever made Justin Turner change his swing with the Met’s is an idiot. Dating back to his High School days, he always had the high leg kick. They decided that it would be better for him to do away with that. Dodgers made them look pretty stupid. They did the same thing with the D-Backs and Mike Bolsinger. He had a pretty good year overall.