Free agency for the Los Angeles Dodgers is largely centered around re-signing Zack Greinke, inking a second elite starting pitcher, or finding a replacement for Greinke. However, the Dodgers also face a question mark at second base.
Immediately after packaging All-Star Dee Gordon to the Miami Marlins last December, the Dodgers acquired Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Outside of a hamstring injury that forced Kendrick to miss time in August and September, he enjoyed a successful season with the Dodgers.
He was in the final year of his contract, and was one of three players the club extended the qualifying offer to.
Kendrick is likely to reject the one-year, $15.8 million contract. He conceivably could then agree to different terms with the Dodgers.
However, in the event Kendrick isn’t re-signed, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman named Kiké Hernandez and Jose Peraza at options at second base, via Jon Weisman of Dodger Insider:
“I think we’re fortunate to have Kiké (Hernandez) and (Jose) Peraza and their ability to bounce around and play different spots or play one spot more often. But we’ll also go out to market and look at the free-agent market as well as trades to see if we can augment our group and add someone who fits really well.”
Outside of Kendrick and Ben Zobrist, the pool of free-agent second baseman this year leaves plenty to be desired. Kendrick hit .295/.336/.409 with nine home runs, 54 RBIS and a 109 wRC+ in 117 games.
Hernandez quickly made a name for himself by playing several positions — without much, if any drop off as he bounced around. The 24-year-old super utility man eventually found a semi-permanent in center field, taking over for Joc Pederson.
Hernandez logged time at second base (20 games; 15 starts), center field (19 games; 18 starts), left field (17 games; five starts), shortstop (16 games; 11 starts), right field (two games; one start) and third base (one start).
The Dodgers acquired Peraza at the end of July as part of the complex, 13-player trade with the Atlanta Braves and Marlins. He was promoted to the Majors on Aug. 10, when the Dodgers placed Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list with the aforementioned left hamstring strain.
Unlike Hernandez, who carries some pop in his bat, Peraza is a light-hitting middle infielder with plenty of speed. A sore hamstring limited Peraza to just seven games with the Dodgers.
He hit .182/.250/.318 with one triple, one double, two walks and three stolen bases in that span. Peraza received the bulk of his playing time, both with Triple-A Oklahoma City and the Dodgers, at second base.
The 21-year-old Peraza also played five innings in center field for the Dodgers. He has Minor-League experience at second base, shortstop and in center.
In the event Los Angeles elects to turn to Hernandez or Peraza, part of the decision-making process would be determining if Peraza is prepared to handle an everyday role, and if Hernandez is best utilized at second base on a daily basis.
