Dodgers, 2B Kendrick agree to $20M, 2-year deal

After spending nine years with the Los Angeles Angels, Kendrick was traded across town, spending the final year of his four-year, $33.5 million deal with the Dodgers.

Kendrick was the Dodgers second baseman in 2015. From an on-field standpoint, the Dodgers are a better team with Kendrick back. Enrique Hernandez and Chase Utley are more than capable of handling second base, so Kendrick’s ability to handle third gives the Dodgers an extreme amount of flexibility. Despite battling a shoulder injury that held him to only 117 games a year ago, he has been an ultra-consistent contributor throughout his career. Given his age and production, the 37-year-old Utley was likely going to be a part-time player in 2016 anyway, but now it might be harder to find playing time for him.

Kendrick, 32 and entering his 11th major league season, provides consistency on a roster laden with uncertainty. Utley could also relieve Justin Turner at third base as he spent weeks training with Tim Wallach last fall to learn the position. Kendrick slashed.295/.336/.409 with 9 home runs and 54 RBI.

However, Kendrick slipped last season and had a career-low -12 defensive runs saved in 2015 after a career total of +28 at second base.

Kendrick was reportedly interested in signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks this offseason after they signed former Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke.

And if that was not enough, there is also the element of the potentially lost draft pick that resigning Kendrick would bring. That would have given the Dodgers four selections in the first 36 picks of this June’s draft. The Dodgers made the formal qualifying offer which Kendrick declined, meaning the Dodgers would receive a draft pick as compensation if Kendrick signed elsewhere.