On the heels of an outstanding bounceback campaign, veteran utilityman Howie Kendrick seems to be a popular early target. Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reports on Twitter that at least a pair of teams are already showing interest.
The Rays and Marlins are two of the clubs knocking on the door at the outset of the open-market season, per Ghiroli, who indicates there are others as well. It’s not hard to imagine why — though for different reasons with respect to each team.
Kendrick turned in a .344/.395/.572 regular season showing over 370 plate appearances before coming up with two enormously important postseason home runs. He also hit the ball harder than just about anyone in baseball during the 2019 and remains capable of spending at least some time at second base and the corner outfield. He’s a part-time guy, but a pretty darn good one.
For the Rays, Kendrick would presumably function mostly as a right-handed-hitting component in their first base/DH mix, while appearing as needed elsewhere on the diamond. Given their numerous existing options, he’d be one nice piece of the puzzle. The Marlins, meanwhile, would like to up their offensive output while adding some veteran leadership.
Kendrick is a Florida native, Ghiroli notes, but he resides in Phoenix. That would seem to leave plenty of room for multiple possibilities, if geographical preferences will drive his decision at all. It stands to reason that the 36-year-old would like to play again for a contending outfit, all else being equal.
We noted that the Rays made for a nice possible fit in our recent Top 50 Free Agent predictions here at MLBTR, though we ultimately guessed Kendrick would land with the Twins. That prediction was based in part upon the notion that there’d be sufficient interest to drive him into a two-year deal at around $6MM annually, which might be a bit rich for the Tampa Bay org. Ghiroli notes that Kendrick is seeking a short-term arrangement, though it’s not evident whether he has a preference for a one or two-year pact.
Yankee killer, please anywhere but Tampa!
Howie is the most likely player to get a gross over pay this off season.
I don’t think you need to worry about him landing in the AL East and terrorizing your Yankees because he is bound to be barely good if good at all.
You have absolutely nothing to base any of that on.
nice to use a MLB players name as screen name..loser
Please, do not repeat the comment from last year!
Not to worry. Six mil is the 25th man salary on most teams…not the Rays. They’ll find a minor league free agent instead.
He lives in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks need a 2B…
They have Marte…. Or that’s what he was when he took Ozzie Albies spot in the all-star game
Do you know how many players live in Arizona in the offseason?
He is not an everyday 2B at this point.
Klentak better jump in on this. wouldnt have gone to Washington if not for his trade to Philly most likely.
Love Kendrick, but this has overpaid playoff hero all over it. I don’t see Philly as a good fit.
Kendrick would be better than 10 S-Rods and 5 Brad Millers combined lol
Well, you’re not wrong there.
I think he is returning to the Nationals next season.
that’s what im figuring. they need a 2B and will probably pay a bit more to keep him in the fold.
Yes, you are right.
I think he will return also, but we have a 2B – Cater Kieboom (unless they don’t sign Rendon and look for ways to make up production).. Kendrick is also too old to play everyday, but he can fill-in in at 1B and 2B.
I’m hoping he returns. He’s a living legend here, has made great friends with the whole team, and has at bats. He’d likely take the same gig he did this year – platoon at 1st and 2nd. My guess is Kieboom will be the starting 2B next year though
Keiboom and Kendrick would be pretty ideal, especially payroll wise.
Would be a great fit for the Mets. Could move him around the infield.
The Mets have Davis, McNeil, AND Lowrie who can do that, you really want another?
Agree, makes little sense. I’m with the previous poster, I think he stays in DC.
Yea, good point but are the Mets even sure that Lowrie is going to play??? That dude couldn’t stay healthy at all in 2019.
Best spending that money on another need.
Cubs
He’d be a great mentor for Hoerner at 2b and a great bat for that lineup.
Amazing. Smart teams know that the juiced ball will be back for the regular season. That means EVERYBODY can hit for power. Going after high-average guys who don’t strike out a ton is the way to get ahead.
If that was the case then everybody single player should have stats like his
I think you’re missing his point…
Run down the list of guys who hit 20+ homers last year. A bunch of INCREDIBLY light-hitting guys topped that number. Heck, Kendrick hit 17. Jonathan Villar hit 24. Kevin Pillar hit 21. I think Brett Gardner hit 28.
Point is.. you can go for a contact guy who doesn’t strike out a ton and puts a lot of balls in play, and bank on the juiced ball padding his power numbers.
Instead of taking BAD HITTERS because they hits home runs.
Even a guy like Gio Urshella. High contact, great defender. No power to speak of… but in the new normal, he hit 20+ homers this year.
Minnesota baby !!
Right handed platoon with Tellez for 1b or DH would be great for Jays too.
He’s an everyday player, no platoon. Especially for the Blue Jays.
The White Sox should be in on Hendricks as well. He could play some 2B until Madrigal comes and and platoon at DH as well.
I could get on this train.
A return to Anaheim would be sweet. They could use a super utility 2B/1B/DH/OF.
Not going to happen. The Angels painted themselves into a corner with Cozart and Pujols.
3B and 1b and DH is taken up with LaStella, Ohtani, Pujols and Cozart.
Hopefully they will let Fletcher play 2b… where he belongs.
Brewers!
If all offers are similar, I’d guess Tampa Bay. He was born in Florida, has family there. and Tampa Bay will give him ABs.
Padres
They could use him, but he’ll get more ABs if he gets time at second, first and DH someplace else. I see him going where he’s going to get ABs.
That’s the thing. He shouldn’t be playing 1B or 2B anywhere, anytime. Especially not on my team.
You can keep saying that, but it doesn’t make it true. Last year at second his DRS was 1. His lifetime DRS at first is 5. It was -1 last year.
Need to hide him, defence totally gone
Not according to the data.
The Giants need him big time. Their whole infield outside of maybe Dubon (remains to be seen) is washed up.
Lol he is way older any of them and likely has less future output left in him than any of them.
You didn’t watch Brandon Crawford this year. He honestly looked like his playing ability was completely stolen ala Space Jam
I don’t see Kendrick leaving Washington, he’s due for another good season there.
Phillies never should have traded him.
Kendrick is still a fine player but he gets hurt too often so he is not dependable.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Cardinals make a run at him.
Go away Marlins.
That’ll never happen, sorry.
If I’m him, I’d put the highest price tag in the world on the Marlins. He’s crushing it too much to go to that
yup,they all jumping ship,tear it down build it back,if possible lol
People are insane if you think he’s gonna go from winning the World Series to a team like the blue jays or White Sox lol. He’s not going to a tanker, if all offers are close Rays have Huge edge seeing as he grew up in Florida and has a lot of family there.
The White Sox aren’t tanking anymore. They’ll have one of the best rotations in baseball, and a very good hitting lineup. If (big if) Reinsdorf allows Hahn to add another Ace and big bat, they’re a lock for the playoffs.
you think so? losing Abreu might hurt somewhat.hey as long as I don’t have to watch the Twinkies win our division I’m good having y’all do it,well,till my TIGS can get going maybe in another 2 years,I hope
I’m sensing a lot of people are sleeping on the White Sox. Here are a few names to remember… Lucas Giolito, should be an All-Star and a Cy Young candidate. SP Michael Kopech has ace potential. SS Tim Anderson, led the league in batting average last year. He’s not even their best hitter, 3B Yoan Moncada is. LF Eloy Jimenez could potentially hit 40+ HRs in 2020. And they have more talent on the way with OF Luis Robert, #1 rated prospect in baseball, INF Nick Madrigal, another batting champion candidate and GG caliber defender. The Sox have money that needs to get spent. Depending on how they spend it, you could be looking at a WS winning roster in 2020 or 2021. Yes, I’m serious.
I know that you are serious.
But players get hurt.
And youngsters go backwards sometimes.
And pitchers have bad years.
The White Sox will be better but they still need to grow.
That stuff could happen to any team, so I don’t see a point. My point is they have a ton of talent right now. If the front office gets handcuffed, and forced to sign marginal players like they always do, the Sox will have wasted another opportunity. Rebuilds don’t work without quality free agent acquisitions.
My point is that young teams take time to grow.
The Dodgers and the Yankees along with a couple of others are the only ones rich enough to have quality backups at every posiiton.
There seems to be more and more injuries every year and they often dictate how well of a year that a team will have.
Their success in 2020 is predicated on these things as much as talent.
You’re telling a White Sox fan about injuries and growing pains? You’re a year to late on that one. We’ve already been through it with most of the roster. Giolito, Moncada and Anderson were terrible two years ago. Pitchers either getting TJ surgery, or coming back from it (Cease). Most of it’s in the rear-view, but I understand you don’t know anything about the roster because you’re not a fan. Sox fans know they’re ready. It’s up to ownership to fo it’s part like they’re supposed to. For a large market team to have so little payroll on the books for the next 3 or 4 years to not land a big time free agent pitcher and/or bat would be embarrassing for this franchise (owner).
Wander Franco is the #1 rated prospect in baseball, notLuis Robert.
It is equally possible he wants at lest one more season where he gets close to full time playing time. He has his ring, maybe he wants the ABs and the playing time.
The last three years he’s hit 325, maybe he just wants to hit. If I was in his shoes, that’s what I’d want.
listen,your beloved Max s did it to Detroit,he’s doing it to you now! you think he won’t go for highest pay day now he’s got a chip?!! really,??? wake up,he gone!
Kendrick would be a great addition to the flexible roster the Rays already have. I think his price tag will be to high for the Rays since there is so much interest within his F/A.
Realistically, responsibly, he should just be signed as a DH somewhere.
Would be a nice fit with any AL contender. Rays definitely seem to make a lot of sense.
Also Marlins? They should be targeting players like Avasail Garcia and Didi Gregorious. Kendrick is nice but I’m sure there are gonna be a lot of vets looking for contracts so they can wait that out to get one at a lower rate. Maybe a guy like Eric Thames.
makes perfect sense.thats why it’ll be somewhere else.
Why would anyone CHOOSE to live in Arizona? LoL unless you play for diamondbacks that place is unlivable haha
Great in the winters!
Uh, Phoenix is currently the fastest growing city in America. A LOT of people with money live in Phoenix suburbs like Scottsdale. Golf courses, sunshine and spring training.
Could be a perfect fit for the Red Sox, if they’re willing to spend the $ I’d assume it will have to do with whether or not they can trade some of their bigger contracts (Betts/JBJ/Price even?) but if they do – they need part-time/full-time 1B/2B given that Pedroia most likely isn’t coming back, Moreland is expected to depart in FA and that essentially leaves only Chavis (and Marco Hernandez) Hernandez, Chavis and Kendrick could really form a solid trio to fill the position (along with maybe one other LH hitting 1B type) — who knows the Sox have a ton of moving (or at least potentially moving pieces – given their stated desire to get below the luxury tax line) but in the event they do so — Kendrick would be a nice ‘low-cost/low-risk’ addition to their lineup and clubhouse
He would be a perfect fit for the Mets. As their #1 utility man, he would play every day at 3b, 1b, LF, RF and 2b
Guys that have postseasons like that tend to develop a knack for it. Love to have him as a Zobrist type on the Cardinals