Dodgers Rumors: Howie Kendrick Acquired For Andrew Heaney
UPDATE (Dec. 10, 11:20 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers formally announced their trade for Howie Kendrick.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers front office has been rather busy on Wednesday at the Winter Meetings, trading Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Miami Marlins while acquiring Jimmy Rollins from the Philadelphia Phillies. It was then reported that the team was close to a four-year deal with free agent starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy.
Not much had gone on in the first few weeks of the new front office other than small deals, but the wheels are turning in San Diego where Farhan Zaidi is busy making deals to improve the NL West champions. It appears that they were not satisfied with the deals they made, as another deal is being reported.
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the Dodgers have found their replacement for Dee Gordon:
Dodgers are acquiring Howie Kendrick from Angels, according to baseball source.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) December 11, 2014
The Dodgers will be giving up a piece they acquired earlier in the day for Gordon, Haren and Miguel Rojas:
CORRECTION: Andrew Heaney to Angels for Howie Kendrick, not Austin Barnes.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) December 11, 2014
Heaney is a left-handed starting pitcher that made five starts for the Marlins in 2014 and is considered one of the top prospects in baseball. He would have slotted into the Dodgers rotation possibly as early as 2015, but will now head just a few miles over to the Angels.
Kendrick is an All-Star second baseman that is known for his strong bat and strong defense. Last season he hit .293 with seven home runs and 75 RBIs while stealing 14 bases. He is a career .292 hitter who is in the last year of his contract. The Dodgers nearly traded for him in the past, but a deal never went through. He will become the everyday second baseman now that Gordon is in Miami.
So you trade an all-star second baseman that had 68 steals and terrorizes pitchers when he on base for a prospect pitcher, then trade him for another second baseman with 14 steals and a little more pop? WTF are you doing Zaidi??? At least the young lefty had potential.
just a stop gap/ mentor for our wonderful cuban we have signed
Dee Gordon is another DeLino DeShields. Banjo all the way. In second half of last year he stunk out the place, Can’t hit
Absolutely! This is a brilliant move. They are selling high for a player that likely showed his max during the 1st half of last season and was MIA the 2nd half. To flip the lefty, who might be good for a proven All Star 2nd baseman who is both an offensive and defensive upgrade. Meanwhile, adding a good arm in the pen and some prospects while essentially trading Haren for McCarthy to boot. Brilliant!