Part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster overhaul last offseason was packaging second baseman Dee Gordon, who was coming off an All-Star year, to the Miami Marlins. The Dodgers then quickly addressed the hole at second base by acquiring Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
While Kendrick remained in Southern California amidst the team change, his home games were now going to played a little further up Interstate 5 than he was accustomed to. However, he was joining a National League team for the first time in his career.
Aside from a hamstring injury that limited in the latter stages of the year, Kendrick’s first season with the Dodgers was largely a success.
Although the veteran second baseman didn’t want to discuss free agency after the Dodgers’ elimination loss, he said the Dodgers would be a team to receive strong consideration during free agency, via Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register:
Second baseman Howie Kendrick will become a free agent this winter. He said the Dodgers would be “on top of my list” as far as where he’d like to play in 2016 but wouldn’t go any farther. “I’m not going to talk about any of that stuff,” he said. “It’s not even on my mind.”
Kendrick hit .295/.336/.409 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs in 117 games played. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly praised the second baseman throughout the year for his workmanlike approach to the game and presence in the clubhouse.
Kendrick is one of a few Dodgers who will likely be extended the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer. Brett Anderson is among those expected to be presented with the qualifying offer as well. Kendrick would be able to reject the qualifying offer and agree to different terms with the Dodgers, or reject it and sign elsewhere.
