9:33pm: The teams have announced the trade. Philadelphia is sending Kendrick and cash to the Nats in exchange for Mills and additional international bonus money.
9:23pm: The Nationals have struck a deal to acquire infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick from the Phillies in exchange for minor league left-hander McKenzie Mills, reports PhillyVoice.com’s Ryan Lawrence (Twitter links). Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network first reported that the Nats were working on a deal to land Kendrick (on Twitter).
The 34-year-old Kendrick hasn’t had his healthiest season, but he’s been extremely productive when on the field. Through 156 plate appearances, he’s posted a brilliant .340/.397/.454 batting line with a pair of homers, eight doubles, a triple and eight steals (in 11 attempts). Once a pure second baseman, Kendrick took on more of a super utility role with the Dodgers in 2016 and has played corner outfield with the Phillies in 2017. Over the past two seasons, he’s spent time at second base, third base, first base and in left field.
Kendrick is earning $10MM this season, though $5MM of that is deferred until 2019, per Cot’s Contracts. The Phillies are paying Kendrick’s contract down to the pro-rated league minimum, tweets Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, so the Nats are only taking on the hook for about $187K for Kendrick, who will hit free agency following the 2017 season.
The Nationals are banged up at the moment, with left fielder Jayson Werth, Michael Taylor, Ryan Raburn and Chris Heisey all on the disabled list. That’s pushed Brian Goodwin into center field and Adam Lind into left field, so Kendrick will provide the club with an option in left as well as some veteran bench depth — and a postseason upgrade over the likes of Raburn and Heisey — once everyone is healthy down the stretch. Kendrick is currently dealing with a bruised left hand after getting hit by a pitch, though clearly Washington isn’t concerned that the injury will have any long-term effects.
Mills, 21, ranked as the Nationals’ 18th-best prospect on the recently released midseason top 30 list of Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com. He’s pitched to a 3.01 ERA with a ridiculous 118-to-22 K/BB ratio (10.1 K/9, 1.9 BB/9) through 104 2/3 innings for Class-A Hagerstown this season. Callis and Mayo peg him for an above-average fastball and curveball with an average changeup. Their report gives him a back-of-the-rotation ceiling but also noted that some in the Nats organization felt there was more upside than that with Mills.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Nice
great pickup for the bullpen
Done deal
International slot money also going to philly.
Nice upgrade at 2nd.
Upgrade? Am I messing something about the offensive first masher ?
Missing* howie can play the corner outfield positions 3rd and 2nd
Upgrade to Murphy.
You honestly think Howie Kendrick is an upgrade over Daniel Murphy? Stop talking.
I think they might just be messing around haha. Or implying since it’s clearly not an upgrade its a bad trade?
He is an upgrade. More power. Even though Murphy isn’t really a power guy. He had one.great postseason vs L.A. and Chicago and he was being compared to babe Ruth and hank Aaron. He’s never had a season like that since.
You are straight up trippin bro Daniel Murphy has had 2 straight ridiculously good seasons since that postseason, including this one. He almost has as many homeruns this season (17) with quite a few more games to play than Kendrick’s career high for a whole season (18). Btw he hit 25 last year and has been batting like .340 the whole time since that postseason.
“He had one great postseasons L.A. And Chicago and . . . He’s never had a season like that since.”
That great postseason was 2015 with the Mets. 2016 with the Nationals he was even better, a reasonable MVP candidate. Murphy is not being replaced by Kendrick at 2B. Troll harder.
Wrek305 is a Cubs homer. He’s just upset that the Brewers aren’t laying down and that the Cubs have a decent chance of not even making the postseason this year.
Let him troll. It’s all he has
lol you’re an idiot
So Kendrick is replacing Murphy?? Hmmm…interesting…
This means Turner and Werth are probably won’t be back
No he’s not they go Kendrick for a back up to Werth,Harper,Murphy, and Rendon
Not the Phillie we expected to be traded tonight, but still a nice pick up.
Apparently the Orioles are interested in Hellickson now lol
I really like Mills, so I think this is a pretty good deal for the Phillies even though it makes sense for the Nationals too
I agree. Mills has a ERA in the late twos
He is a prospect in Class A though, so don’t get your hopes up too high
Good move for the Nats.
Good for the Phillies. Great
…. As a phils “Phan” … Good enough, need to the roster spot. Kendrick played liked the old Kendrick … Minus the injuries
Good get for Nationals. Kendrick plays multiple positions. They need someone now and it gives them insurance if they have a late season injury at a number of spots.
True but the Phillies won that deal. They got a really good prospect in Mills. If u don’t believe me go look at his numbers
Bit early to say it’s anything but a good deal for both sides. Nationals got a super-utility who is raking this year, but is recently injured. Mills is putting up great numbers, but hasn’t pitched above A-ball, and wasn’t a top 15 prospect for the Nationals.
Perfect candidate to join the other guys ON THE DL.
The minor league player is a nice get but the real coup is the international draft slot cash. Phils have had good luck with these signings so I’m optimistic that they will score here again.
good for howie. Now i’m rooting for nats in playoffs for the NL side. Always been a fan of howie from the angels days
Good deal, Nats.
Very disappointed in this comment section. No one has even asked “but can he pitch”.
Have you heard about the reviews of his pitching?
Are they not rave?
please stop. it wasn’t funny to begin with.
He can’t pitch as well as Refsnyder!
It was and very much still is
He can. He has an ERA in the late twos
good trade for both teams.