Infielder Howie Kendrick has been noncommittal about his long-term playing status, suggesting in September he could step away from the game after 15 MLB seasons. However, Kendrick seemed to hint in an Instagram post this afternoon (h/t to Britt Ghiroli of the Athletic) that he is planning to continue his career, along with firmly indicating that he will continue his charitable endeavors off the field. “What a season! Proud to partner with Bank of America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help fuel rallies all season long and make a difference for kids in our communities. See you all next year,” Kendrick wrote.
The Nationals declined their 2021 club option on Kendrick’s services, making the former World Series hero a free agent. Kendrick only hit .275/.320/.385 with two home runs across 100 plate appearances in 2020, but he’s just a year removed from an elite season at the plate. A return to Washington wouldn’t seem to be out of the question, and surely other teams would have some interest in signing a veteran with Kendrick’s track record.
More on some other available players…
- Marcell Ozuna’s free agent market is explored by an MLB.com panel of Mark Bowman, Alyson Footer, Scott Merkin, and Jesse Sanchez, with a particular focus on the White Sox (Merkin’s team on the beat) and Braves (Ozuna’s most recent team, and Bowman’s beat). The White Sox had some interest in Ozuna last winter but now might be looking for more of a full-time outfielder, Merkin says, since star prospect Andrew Vaughn is expected to step into the first base/DH mix alongside Jose Abreu at some point in 2021. Since Ozuna profiles more as a DH over the long term, the Braves might have some hesitation over bringing Ozuna back since it isn’t yet known if the National League will adopt the designated hitter for 2021. However, Bowman also notes that Ozuna quickly became a valued figure in Atlanta due to both his production and clubhouse presence. Early reports have already suggested that the Braves are interested in re-signing Ozuna, but at least nine other clubs have also inquired about his services.
- Tommy Kahnle is weighing multiple two-year offers, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (via Twitter). Kahnle underwent Tommy John surgery in early August, though it isn’t uncommon for recent TJ patients to still land multi-year deals on the open market. In most of these cases, the player receives the bulk of the salary in the second year of the contract and a minimum salary in the first year, with the understanding that most or all of year one will be spent recovering from the surgery. Kahnle, Heyman says, is hoping to return by the end of the 2021 season, which would be on the short end of the usual 12-15 month recovery timeline for Tommy John patients.
I’m rather surprised Kahnle has multiple 2 year offers fresh off TJS.
I view it as pretty much a 2022 deal where they have to lock up his time beforehand too. They’re just paying for one year (the second year) but they have to structure it as a two year to reserve him now for that second year.
Doesn’t really make any sense to sign him to a one year deal right now, he’s barely going to pitch in 2021, he could miss the whole year. If you’re interested in him, it basically has to be on a two year deal in order to have him long enough for him to be worthwhile.
Great explanation!
Agreed, though the article alluded to the same thing.
.275 isn’t a poor season batting by any stretch.
hardly worthy of an “only”
.700 ops and ONLY 2 hrs.
.705 OPS, 82 wRC+, .298 wOBA. Pretty poor season if you ask me.
Let me tell you something that many fans and all baseball executives have discovered: batting average means nothing.
And WAR and those other new stats are overrated.
Incorrect
Give you a better idea of how good a player is than BA.
Few overrate WAR. Few underrate Batting Average.
Just use bOFA. That’s a much better predictor of future performance.
You say batting average means nothing but isn’t getting hits kind of important?
Many say batting avg. is not important. Might check out HOF averages. One does not get there without lots and lots of HITS!
Is getting hits the only thing that is important? Let’s say a guy bats .275 but only hits singles. But let’s say their was a similar player that hits .250 but he gets a more “normal” mix of base hits (single and multi base hits). Who would you want? The better player is the guy who will hit .250 and that is the guy who had the better season and should be counted on being more productive in the future.
Home runs and singles are the same in the context of BA.
Batting average means alot, but it’s also reflected in other stats.
Batting Average in isolation can be misleading. Virtually everything in isolation can be misleading. The more data the better.
It can mean alot if you pair it with slugging. Slugging essentially tells you how good the hits they got were. In 2019, looking at offense only, I’d rather have Michael Conforto (.257 BA/.494 SLG) than Jose Iglesiaes (.284 BA/.407 SLG), but I’d take Ozzie Albies over both. He has a similar SLG to Conforto and a .295 BA. Iggy gets more hits but Conforto gets more extra base hits. Albies gets more hits and xbh.
GareBear – I would want the singles hitter batting ahead of the .250 hitter who gets the normal mix of singles and doubles and some home runs. The singles hitter is the one ( with decent foot speed ) who scores ahead of the double possibly and for sure ahead of the home run. Singles hitters are the back breaker to the pitcher who is trying to give up no hits at all.
I woud want the singles hitter batting in front of the .250 power hitter too, but that doesn’t mean the singles hitter is more productive than the .250 hitter. I think most of us can agree that Aaron Judge, a .270 hitter, is more productive than Jean Segura, a .290 hitter.
D’accord.
Getting hits is *absolutely* important. One of the most important things a batter can do.
It’s next on the list right after; getting on base & hitting the ball hard.
All those solo homers in blowout games really influence those 20 hr/55 rbi contracts, but .225 hitters rarely drive teams to championships simply because good pitching beats good hitting.
Post season #1, 2 and 3 starting pitchers make .225 power hitters useless. Much of their regular season damage is done to middle relievers and back of the rotation starters.
Meanwhile, how many pitchers had microscopic era’s last year because hitters are just trying to hit homeruns instead of putting the ball in play?
I think teams need to start rewarding players for TEAM wins instead of individual stats. Baseball is just maddeningly, fundamentally putrid. Maybe that’s why teams like the Braves, A’s and Rays find the post season – they still believe in making contact and putting pressure on pitchers and defenses?
A ball in play on the ground needs to be fielded, thrown and fielded again. A ball in play in the air just needs to be caught. Good Pitchers have figured out how to pitch to guys swinging for the fences. Bad pitchers try to throw it passed them and fail.
BA is useless without context. Mike Trout and David Fletcher had almost identical BA’s in 2019 but were completely different hitters. Bill Mazeroski and Reggie Jackson have almost identical career averages as well. You can be a .260 hitter and be really good but you can also be a .260 hitter and be very unproductive.
This argument is always frustrating to have.
If you still think the RBI is a good stat to measure a player by and cry when someone says a .275 BA is not a good season than you’re either set in your old ways and refusing to bend to intelligent analysis, or you’re too damn stupid to understand that intelligent analysis.
Give OZUNA 3/60 right now
I seriously doubt Ozuna would take that.
He’ll be getting at minimum a 4 yr deal.
I think one of the Kahnle offers came from Houston. I see them going after underrated bullpen arms like him and more.
BTW, when is the prediction contest coming out? I thought it was supposed to be the 14th, but it wasn’t.
thought it was Monday
So I didn’t know that Kahnle had TJ recently, so I’d knock the Stros’ out of the talks. I think they will go after free agent relievers, but I didn’t know Kahnle had TJ, so ignore what I said above.
Guys I see them targeting are May, Petit, Workman, and just as a minor pickup, Cory Gearrin. I love Gearrin and I think Houston would do him wonders.
I guess for Kahnle they’d be like 2 years/$5M, with 2o21 $1M and 2022 $4M and maybe a mutual option for 2023 at $5M or something?
I wish these “experts”, including Braves beat reporter Mark Bowman, would stop with all the Marcell Ozuna to the White Sox rumors. The White Sox don’t need another defensively challenged LF or a DH with Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn and perhaps even Yermin Mercedes filling those roles in 2021 and beyond. Like Ozuna, they all hit right-handed, something the White Sox already have an abundance of in their batting order.
The White Sox need a RF, preferably one who bats left-handed. Ozuna cannot play RF with an arm that is only suited to LF. If the White Sox want to forego handedness and desire a star in RF their man would be George Springer.
There aren’t any standout left-handed hitting free agent RF’s available as we post. This could potentially change when a new batch of FA’s emerge with non-tenders by the December 2nd deadline. The two best current FA’s might be Joc Pederson and Adam Eaton.
Like Ozuna, Pederson has also spent more time at LF/DH recently with the Dodgers but does have the athleticism and arm to at least be adequate in RF. Pederson has awful splits versus southpaws and would need a right-handed hitting compliment with him in RF which the White Sox can easily do with Adam Engel.
As for former White Sox OF Eaton, he could occupy RF on a regular basis provided he can somehow manage to stay off the IL which had been a major problem for him with the Nationals. Defensively, Eaton could be a plus defender in RF with his speed and cannon arm. He can also hit for a high BA/OBP, with decent contact and pop provided he is in the lineup and not on the IL. Eaton posted bWAR’s of 5.2, 4.1 and 6.6 in his 3 years with the White Sox (baseball-reference.com/players/e/eatonad02.shtml), the highest metric coming in his last year on the southside when he was their primary RF and a Gold Glove finalist. All this is a big ‘IF’ 4 years later at the soon to be age of 32 next month.
The only way the White Sox might consider adding Ozuna to their lineup would be in the event of a trade involving either Jimenez or Vaughn to seriously upgrade one of the few major holes on their roster such as a controllable veteran TOR or RF. Any such deal is not likely with both hitters having huge offensive upsides and long term team control to match. It would also likely piss off most White Sox fans depending on exactly who came back in return although I might be OK with a deal of either in a package with the Red Sox for TOR Chris Sale and RF Alex Verdugo. lol
I dont think Ozuna would want to play for the New Manager in Chicago anyways. He is quite unpopular
Aaron great analysis as always. I don’t think pursuing Ozuna makes sense but they had interest last year and may believe his bat can make up for any defensive deficiencies. My preference would be Springer but believe they will sign Pederson (again past interest) for less money and ensure Engel gets enough bats. My hope is if they go that route they are using the savings to sign Bauer. A 1-2-3 of Gio, Bauer and Big-D and I think the Central is a lock.
George Springer is not going to sign to play RF. He wants to go somewhere where he can play CF.
Agree with 90% of this post…Eaton would be a good fit if at reasonable price and allow a platoon with Adolfo or Engel as your 4th OFer. Disagree with Jimenez as a trade chip and would insert Moncada and Vaughn as trade pieces. You have Jimenez locked up as a core piece and Moncada is still projectible but 2021 will be his defining year as either elite or replacement average. I’d call up TLR’s old team and ask about pitchers Fernandez and Cabrera.
Aaron nice post as always. I will point out that Ozuna and Springer both hit righties very well, which makes them being a right handed hitter meaningless. Either is way better than a bad left handed hitter like Pederson. Springer especially, hits righties BETTER than lefties actually, the past 2 years at least. Pederson has a career average below .250, his numbers last season very similar to Encarnacion, both with OPS under .300. He is a bad hitter, in the Adam Dunn/Encarnacion mold. He has some power but I’m far from convinced he would even be an improvement over Engel, at least not significant. Engel is hard nosed, very hard worker, and might do well full time if given a chance. The last thing they need is another bad hitter behind Robert with teams pitching around Robert all the time, which is exactly what Pederson would be. A total waste of money if they signed him, which would be typical for them.
Ozuna has played right in the past, and might be adequate. Mazara was not exactly a great fielder. I doubt Ozuna is quite as bad in right as Eloy is in left. Ozuna won a gold glove in 2017, so he can’t be a complete butcher out there. So I disagree that Ozuna would not make any sense for this team.
I prefer Eaton greatly over Pederson. Less power but just a way better all around player and hitter. I know average is an over-rated stat, but only to a point. Pederson is the kind of guy who will strike out with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 out, and would provide next to nothing on this team, especially protection for Robert.
If this team falls short it will be because of pitching, which is an enormously bigger need for them than a right fielder better than Engel. But realistically Bauer is the only guy that would be a difference maker, and should be the only guy they go for with any gusto. After him is huge dropoff, and virtually every other FA pitcher is really only a 1 year contract with a club option candidate. Quintana might be good on such a deal.
But the bottom line is that the only way they can really improve themselves is with Springer or Bauer, and I would throw Ozuna in that mix also. Anyone else they should only get as stopgaps on 1 year deals. If they miss out on those 3, best to wait until next year than commit to marginal upgrades that constrain their ability to sign anyone the following offseason. I have said before, if Grandal is their highest paid player and prize FA signing of the rebuild, this team is going nowhere beyond a mediocre team with a lot of wasted talent.
I want no part of Eaton. His injuries are starting to catch up to him, and he was awful last season.
A Pederson platoon with Engel wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, depending on price, and I do think George Springer will play RF if he gets the money he wants.
If they want a cost effective option, Puig is still available.
But they cannot roll out an outfield with Eloy and Ozuna in the corners, and DH would block Vaughn.
Think of the offense on the White Sox if they signed Ozuna. He would just fill in at DH for Edwin, but would be much more consistent than Encarnacion.
Projected team for 2021 if they sign Ozuna
C: Grandal
1B: Abreu MVP
2B: Madrigal
SS: Anderson
3B: Moncada
OF: Robert, Jimenez or Ozuna, Mazara
DH: Ozuna or Jimenez
Pitching: Giolito and Keuchel coming of strong seasons; Dunning and Kopech ready to prove themselves. Bummer, Heuer, and Lopez in the bullpen.
And Andrew Vaughn in the minors, this team looks scary.
Jose Abreu and Andrew Vaughn will be doing a time share at 1B/DH in 2021 once the latter is promoted to the active roster which likely happens at some point in mid-April unless he gets a contract extension beforehand like Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert received ahead of their respective opening days in 2019 and 2020.
That fills the DH spot for most of 2021 with catchers Yasmani Grandal, Zack Collins and perhaps Yermin Mercedes also seeing occasional duty as backups at DH/1B. All this leaves Marcell Ozuna out of the equation since he and Jimenez can only play LF or DH.
Nomar Mazara will almost certainly be non-tendered by the White Sox in the coming two weeks ahead of the December 2nd deadline. The White Sox will be looking for another primary RF, preferably one who bats left-handed to balance out a batting order that only has switch-hitters Grandal and Yoan Moncada hitting from the left side. Current free agents Joc Pederson, Adam Eaton or a potential trade acquisition seem the most likely avenue for GM Rick Hahn pending other non-tenders after the deadline.
The White Sox can forsake handedness if owner Jerry Reinsdorf authorizes a run at top free agent OF George Springer to be their next RF which could go a long way to appease an angry fan base after HIS recent hire of manager Tony La Russa.
Aaron I do agree with that. Hoping that the LaRussa fiasco spurs Reinsdorf to do something out of character to make up for it, like go big on Springer or Bauer. I’ll point out again that Springer hits righties better than lefties, and would be better against right handed pitching than any available left handed hitter.
Most all White Sox fans would welcome George Springer as their core RF for the next 5 years or so, including yours truly. That said, it would still be nice to add a little more left-handed balance to a batting order that went 15-0 versus southpaws in 2020 and struggled mightily against RHP. Currently, the only projected starters who bat from the left side are switch-hitters Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal. The system depth for the White Sox also suggests more high upside right-handed hitters than left-handed ones.
Again, what difference does a left handed or right handed hitter make? The general idea is that left handed hitters hit right handed pitchers better than right handed hitters. That is not always the case, and Springer is a clear exception. So the fact that he is not left handed makes NO difference. Pederson hit .179 in 2020 vs righties with a .400 slugging and sub .700 OPS. Would he be better because he is a lefty than Springer who hit 100 points higher with a .550 slugging and .930 OPS vs righties? Lefty/righty is only a valid concern when the numbers support it. Springer is the equivalent of a left handed hitter in terms of production vs righties, and there is no left handed hitter available that hits right handed pitchers close to as well. So the idea of “balancing the lineup” only makes sense if you are talking about a good left handed hitter, none of which are better than Springer when it comes to hitting right handed pitchers. He is a left handed hitter in disguise!
I’ve gotten my hopes up like this many times as a Braves and only been burnt… Ozuna will not be a brave next year… Mark my words. Unless randomly he’s willing to do a huge discount or simply a 1 year deal, I don’t think the Braves fork out the money even if the NL has a DH next year. They just won’t do it.
Gotta disagree here. They have 70 million coming off the books. Let’s assume they pocket 20 mil because of 2020 revenue lost. That gives them 50 mil to spend. 10 mil is going towards arbitration so that leaves 40 mil. I believe Ozuna will get 20 mil per yr. That leaves them 20 mil to go after 2 bullpen arms and a veteran starter. They can easily pay him.
Yo, I totally agree. Believe me, I’m one of the few fans that follows the books pretty close much like it sounds you do. It’s not that I don’t think we can do it, it’s more I don’t think they will. There is a difference
Ozuna to the Braves is a gamble against getting a permanent NL DH. It’s also a departure from their recent practice of only signing one year deals when the AAV is a significant amount. Worse in my opinion is that you lock up the DH slot when IMO it’s often better to use it to give players a break. On the upside- the team is ready to push to the next level of postseason success. Ozuna might be the right guy in the right spot at the right time. It’ll be interesting to see what happens. Overall the Braves are a pretty good team and I hope they do well.
Rather sign Nelson Cruz away from twins then trade for Blackmon who Rockies won’t want much ( i know let me hear it but with $ crunch won’t take that much )
Anderson
Blackmon
Abreu
Cruz
Eloy
Grandal
Robert
Moncoda
Nicky
As a White Sox fan I salivate at the idea of adding Ozuna’s bat, but him and Eloy in the same outfield would make the Sox the favorite team of those guys who put together defensive blooper reels on YouTube.
What’s great is that MLB.com recently had a roundtable discussion about Ozuna and his market (same link as above in article) with CHW (Scott Merkin) & ATL (Mark Bowman) beat reporters. When asked their predictions, both beat reporter said the other team was going to land Ozuna. lol
mlb.com/news/marcell-ozuna-debate-where-will-he-si…
That link was already posted and is the basis for this article’s discussion of Marcell Ozuna. It is ironic that each team’s beat writer predicted Ozuna would land with the other. Of course, White Sox beat reporter Scott Merkin makes the more compelling case for Ozuna not to be a White Sox in 2021 and beyond with his greater knowledge of the team’s needs this offseason which don’t include another right-handed hitting LF/DH option.
Yeah, I amended, but not enough. Honestly, ATL beat reporter Mark Bowman comes off as very pessimistic of ATL’s offseason. I’m hoping he doesn’t have inside knowledge of their financials and is taking a guarded approach predicting that the ’21 OD lineup would include additions: Freddy Galvis, Joc Pedersen (under the presumption 2021 would not feature the NL DH, and in turn, not landing Ozuna), Jon Lester, and re-signing O’Day (whom they turned down his $3.5M option). Dear God, that’s a miserable offseason and one that would land AA on the naughty list.
Braves Logic 101
Ozuna ….. poor fielder + expensive = let him walk
pretty simple really.
Sign Springer (5 yrs.=130 Mil..) Trade for Gallo. Extend Freeman (5 yrs.-130 mil.) Resign Melancon (12 yr.-6 mil.)