Coming off a 2014 season in which they repeated as National League West division champions but fell short of winning or so much as reaching the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers underwent a significant overhaul.
Andrew Friedman was hired as president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi was in as general manager soon after, and several others were added to the organization.
The shakeup reached the roster, with Dee Gordon and Dan Haren among those traded to the Miami Marlins, and Matt Kemp one of two players dealt to the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers biggest offseason signing last year was inking Brandon McCarthy to a four-year, $48 million contract. Los Angeles traded for Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins to solve their middle-infield needs.
Of those three players, only McCarthy is likely to return with the Dodgers in 2016. Although his season was cut short due to Tommy John surgery, McCarthy was able to see enough of Kendrick to realize the second baseman isn’t what the pitcher expected as he jokingly explained on The Players’ Tribune:
Has there been a guy you played against who turned out to be totally different than you expected once you ended up on a team together? – Ethan
Howie Kendrick had given me fits throughout my career, so when I joined the Dodgers I expected him to be a mouth-breathing, drooling cretin, hellbent on ruining my dreams. Sadly, he turned out to be very nice.
Prior to becoming teammates in 2015, Kendrick logged 17 plate appearances against McCarthy. He got the best of the right-hander, going 7-for-16 with three doubles and three RBIs. Though, McCarthy did have five strikeouts against Kendrick to zero walks.
This season could present an opportunity for the two to square off once more, but it largely hinges on where Kendrick signs and McCarthy’s recovery from surgery. The 32-year-old right-hander isn’t expected to return until the All-Star break.
