UPDATE (Feb. 5, 1:00 a.m. PT): According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Dodgers will make the pair of $5 million deferred payments to Howie Kendrick on Dec. 15 in 2018 and 2019:
Kendrick’s deal includes annual salaries of $10 million, but half is deferred without interest. He will get $5 million payments on Dec. 15 in 2018 and 2019.
The Los Angeles Dodgers added to a deep crop of infielders by officially announcing the re-signing of Howie Kendrick to a two-year contract on Thursday.
The veteran second baseman spent last season with Los Angeles, though rejected the club’s one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer at the outset of free agency.
Although he will turn 33 years old in July, Kendrick figured to have a strong list of suitors given the shortage of elite talent on the open market at his position.
However, as Ben Zobrist found a home in Chicago, and Daniel Murphy signed with the Washington Nationals last month, there was little action to speak of on Kendrick’s front. The Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly had interest, but were hesitant to lose another draft pick.
The quiet offseason eventually led to the Dodgers and Kendrick reuniting. According to Jon Heyman, the team-friendly contract includes $5 million in deferred salaries for two years beyond the lifetime of the deal:
Howie Kendrick: $10m in '16, $10M in '17. 5M deferred each year without interest. #dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 4, 2016
Value of kendrick deal is calculated as $19.245M. So deferrals lower value by less than 4 pct. #dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 4, 2016
Los Angeles also deferred salary in their three-year, $48 million contract with Scott Kazmir. However, the southpaw can opt out of the deal after the 2016 season.
Kendrick hit .295/.336/.409 with nine home runs, 54 RBIs, a .325 wOBA and 109 wRC+ in 117 games last season. He missed 34 games over August and September due to a strained left hamstring.
While Kendrick returns to play second base, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated some time at third base may be in Kendrick’s future as well. He’s played just one game at that position over his 10-year Major League career.
