Editorials

Dodgers Announce Re-Signing of Howie Kendrick

The Dodgers now officially have a second-baseman, who they plan on moving around the diamond. Okay, fine. That’s a different story altogether on how they plan to use him and the other infielders.

The news here is the signing is official and the value in this signing is incredible.




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This, via the Dodgers’ official Twitter account:

First, on the signing, there were some out there likely jaded by the Hisashi Iwakuma ordeal who wouldn’t believe the signing until they saw Kendrick or any other potential signing wearing their Dodgers Blue uniform.

This was a completely different situation, but that sentiment likely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, especially this offseason.

Next, and exponentially more importantly, the re-signing was all about value. Yes, the Dodgers reportedly preferred the compensatory pick they would’ve received for Kendrick, but at two years, $20 million, this was simply too good to pass up.

Kendrick signing at that reduced rate falls in line with the Dodgers’ front office being opportunistic spenders, a trend that will continue until albatross contracts like Carl Crawford’s and Andre Ethier’s are off the books.

While he spent parts of last season hampered by a hamstring issue, Kendrick remains one of the most solid second-basemen in MLB and is a welcomed sight for any Dodgers fan who was concerned about the situation at his position.

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Keep reading for the full press release.

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the signing of infielder Howie Kendrick to a two-year contract.

 In his first year with the Dodgers in 2015, Kendrick, 32, batted .295 with 22 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 54 RBI in 117 games during the regular season. He started in all five NLDS games against the Mets, hitting .273 with a double, a home run and four RBI. He ranked fifth in the National League with a .360 batting average with runners in scoring position (36-for-100) and also posted a .335 (64-for-191) mark with runners on base. In 59 home games last season, he hit .312 (72-for-231) with 13 doubles, six home runs and 29 RBI and has a .316 career batting average (97-for-307) in 79 games at Dodger Stadium, the fourth-highest mark among active players (min. 100 AB).

 Kendrick has a .293 career batting average with 271 doubles, 87 home runs and 555 RBI in 1,198 games in 10 MLB seasons with the Angels (2006-14) and Dodgers (2015). The 2011 All-Star has a .986 career fielding percentage, appearing primarily at second base, and has hit well in the clutch during the course of his career, posting a .298 batting average with runners in scoring position and a .299 mark with runners on base.

The Florida native was originally selected by the Angels in the 10th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Johns River Community College (FL), prior to being acquired by the Dodgers on December 10, 2014 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney. 

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