Angels infielder Howie Kendrick’s extension contains a clause permitting him to block trades to four teams this year. As Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports on Twitter, Kendrick can decline a swap that would send him to the Blue Jays, Mets, Rays, or Marlins.
The 31-year-old second baseman has been mentioned as a trade candidate as he enters the final year of the extension he signed before the 2012 season. Kendrick is owed $9.5MM this year before hitting the open market.
Kendrick could hold appeal to several teams given his reasonable price tag and lack of a long-term commitment. Of course, the Jays, Mets, and Marlins are all clubs that seem poised (on paper, at least) to pursue additions up the middle, so his no-trade choices could well have an impact on his market.
For the contending Halos, the possibility of a deal seems tied primarily to the desire to open up payroll space. After all, Kendrick has produced at or above the league average rate in every year but his first. And he has been a consistently strong producer in recent years: since 2012, Kendrick has averaged 594 plate appearances and a .292/.336/.410 line and has been good for about twenty combined homers and steals per campaign.
With solid defensive marks, Kendrick has been a consistently above-average player on the whole. And a jump in defensive metrics last year thrust him into the four-to-five WAR range. That is an appealing total package, particularly when his good record of durability and limited commitment are factored in.
Okay, WHY are the Blue Jays on everyone’s no-trade list?! What is it about the Blue Jays that every free agent hates so much?
fake grass and higher taxes
Fake grass – Rays have that as well.
Higher taxes – Not going to touch this subject as this is a baseball forum, not a political one.
I’m wondering if they worry about the expat tax levied by the US as well. I know that it’s avoided in most income brackets but baseball players probably make enough that they’d have to pay it in addition to Canadian taxes.
I’m not sure, but I believe they can even get around paying taxes in Canada.
Due to the fact they spend most of their time in America, and with spring training in America as well, they can say they earn their income in America, and they are non-residents of Canada. I’ve heard something about this, but cannot remember where and how accurate it is.
Edit: Just checked common law. Tom Cheek, who was the Jays play-by-play announcer for several years, won his court case. He was a non-resident, and therefore did not have to pay tax on income earned outside of Canada. However, essentially he recorded his income for Jays home games, and then deducted it under the treaty-exempt tax deduction provision 110(1)(f)(i). However, this is for provision is for entertainers only, and I am not sure what the courts definition of entertainers is.
Long story short, Tom Cheeck did not have to pay tax in Canada on his income. He simply paid tax in America. This was a 2002 case, and there was no change to the statutory law, and the case was not appealed.
Therefore I would assume that all athletes playing in Toronto do not pay tax in Toronto, but rather America.
It is just a misconception that fans, and players, have that they pay more tax in Canada. They likely wont even pay tax in Canada.
They only get taxed by Canada for their home games
I don’t think it has to be political to observe that there are differences in taxes, and that they could impact a person’s incentives — particularly when said person is contracted to work in the future at a fixed salary.
WOAHHHHHH.
JK
No established MLB player worries about being traded to the Rays. Once you’ve gotten past a year or two of arbitration, the Rays don’t want you. No need to worry about them or put the Rays on a no-trade list.
Rays also have a no income tax in the state of Florida.
your right on that one i live in florida
Top marginal tax rate in California: 51.9%
Top marginal tax rate in Ontario: 49.5%
I once had a conversation with Stephane Richer when he was traded back to Montreal from the Devils. He told me that the trade was going to cost him a lot of money because Quebec had higher taxes.
it’s higher than places like texas and florida – about on par with California and New york.
Because a lot of Americans know nothing about Canada and think playing up here is like playing in the north pole with eskimos to watch.
Haha
I do not know if it has changed or not but there did not use to be an exchange rate on currency in which they rated the contract. So Canada is not a place they wanted to play.
All contracts are signed in American dollars.
So a lower Canadian dollar would even be better for the athletes, because the cost of everything essentially goes down.
the canadian dollar is worth slightly more than an american dollar at the momes
In all honesty I haven’t checked that exchange rate in several months. There was a period of time where it was worth more and kinda shocking since we have all lived in the status quo of the inferior Canadian dollar our entire lives
That’s one of the saddest things I’ve heard. I remember when I traveled to Toronto in 11th grade, pre-9/11, bought a pack of baseball cards (forget how many there were, maybe a team pack), gave the cashier an American $20 and got a Canadian $20 in change. And we’re not getting better. The American dollar is just going to keep dropping.
Yeah, prior to 2002 our dollar was about $0.50 per American dollar. In 2006 though our dollar was $1.10 per American dollar, so we’ve gone a long way. It goes up and down in recent years.
Do you mind explaining what you mean by that? I don’t believe I understood.
I think the message is that once upon a time the exchange rate of US to Canadian Dollars used to greatly favor the US currency. However, now it’s quite the opposite.
I got that part, but I’m not sure if the poster argues it being a good thing or a bad thing. A strong Canadian dollar is great for American companies that sell goods and services to Canada.
Better check your facts
Most people seem to have very little understanding about the concept of currencies or exchange rates. I often hear the idea that if a country calls their currency dollars that they have same spending power as another county with a currency called dollars.
FYI: 1 Canadian dollar is currently 89 cents American.
And is still somewhat overvalued at that.
Wrong. The Canadian dollar as of this morning is worth under 88 cents American.
Not really, no. Just because both currencies are called dollars doesn’t mean they have equal buying power.
All contracts are paid in US$, so it doesn’t matter about the exchange rate.
No one wants to move their family to a different country and older guys (and most younger ones too) don’t want to play on turf. If you noticed, he and Marlon Byrd have the Rays too.
Players can get a bonus for waiving the no-trade option.
For example the agent might ask for an option to be guaranteed, an extra
extension, the Qualifying Offer option to be eliminated or just straight up money if they agree to waive the no-trade.
The player agent may be trying to identify teams with the biggest need for their client rather than choosing cities they don’t like. The Blue Jays have been rumored to be interested in Kendrick for a few seasons. So why not try to get some control and possibly something extra with the no trade selection.
1. artificial turf
2. shaky upper management
3. psycho manager
4. no winning vibe
Will grant you the perception by players of 1, 2 and 4, but how is John Gibbons a “psycho”? He’s not Carlos Zambrano. He’s got to be one of the calmest and most level-headed managers in MLB.
Toronto? Do they get paid in Canadian money? Probably a pain in the butt to always have to exchange your cash for American currency.
no
I think it might be the fact that many players do not want to live in Canada. I don’t know why though. It’s a great country. Maybe they find it too cold.
Why though? It’s not like Canada is a bad country.
Most people don’t want to move their family to a different country. Its not about Canada being bad, people just don’t like change. How many major FA have signed with the Jays? Melky and Edwin?
Edwin wasn’t really a major free agent. He was waived by Toronto, and then non-tendered by Oakland, before signing back here. Melky had unusual circumstances surrounding him.
I’d have to say the last significant free agent would have been the year they signed Aj Burnett and Bj Ryan. But every other year, I don’t think they were really players for major free agents.
I think the turf issue is bigger than different country. Example: Carlos Beltran.
B.J. Ryan only signed here because nobody else but the Blue Jays were willing to roll the dice on his arm not falling off with his extremely unorthodox delivery; which it did. They also paid him the most money for a closer at the time.
Burnett also got paid pretty well at the time, he got Ace level type money when he was a solid #2-3. His signing probably had to do with The Jays having financial flexibility due to the strong Canadian dollar which was hovering around $1.10 in 2006.
I believe it has to do more with Canadian taxes.
Blue Jays and Rays for fake grass, Marlins and Mets because of the owners recent history?
I know what’s been going on with the Marlins, but what’s happening with the Mets?
The Wilpons getting caught up in the Madoff scandal that limited their resources and being serious about contention for half a decade now.
Disclaimer: I do not like the Wilpons at all and would love to see them go. That said, as a Mets fan, I think Madoff was one of the best things that could have happened to the club because it forced the team to value and stockpile young talent. The team is better positioned right now for future success than it has been since the mid 80s. The team missed out on IFAs but limited financials really helped, not hurt, the team in domestic free agency.
I totally get it, and agree on all your points, but because of that they havent been serious about contending and I could see why HK had them as his no trade teams when he signed the deal. And for me its total speculation, who knows why he really doesn’t want to go there.
Two words: the Wilpons
They run the Mets like a small market club and try to micromanage things when there are competent people already in place to do the job. Their outside money troubles are a bigger distraction than they or Bud Selig has wanted to let on.
“They run the Mets like a small market club” – The team lost all the time with a Top-5 (and even Top-2) payroll. Now they have strong young pitching and one of the best farms in the game. Not signing Bourn allowed Lagares to bloom. Not signing Kendrys Morales allowed Lucas Duda to hit the 3rd most homers in the NL. Not signing Drew meant the team didn’t sign Drew. Overall, “running the Mets like a small market club” made a lot of sense for the Free Agent market. On the IFA market, the team missed out on guys like Chapman and Soler but also avoided guys like Tanaka, who cost ~$150 million and already has a UCL tear.
Sorry about the rant – I hate the Wilpons as much as the next guy and Madoff was rough. However, “running the team like a small market team” was a GOOD thing, not a BAD thing.
Mets have no need for Kendrick. Murphy is there for this year unless traded, Flores could be a possibility at SS, but if Murphy is traded he’ll be the 2B, and Dilson Herrera, although only 20, exploded in the minors and showed flashes when given a chance late in the year, he’s probably the 2B of the future. I don’t see any scenario where the Mets would have traded for Kendrick.
Agreed. You can throw Matt Reynolds into the mix too: .355/.430/.422 in AA, .333/.385/.479 in AAA, and prospect pedigree (2nd round pick).
Murphy is one of only 2 or 3 Mets that can actually hit. They need to add bats but in other positions. 2B is already an area of strength for them.
I’d like to see the O’s go after him. Let Schoop figure out his offense at AAA while Kendrick provides a much needed lead-off candidate
The thing is the O’s would have give something of value to Kendricks.
I am not sure if that would be wise.
Send them Gonzalez. Back end starter with a few years left for an above average 2B on a one year deal? Seems okay to me
Makes no sense at all. The O’s need to budget their resources better than dumping $8-9 million at 2B. Even though his offense is shaky, Schoop’s defense is way better than Kendrick and Showalter is all about the defense.
To say “Way better” is inaccurate. Kendrick is an above average fielder. I can’t say who is better exactly, but its not a landslide in either direction.
The Orioles need a guy who can bat lead off, Kendrick fills that need. Then you give Schoop a year to remember how to hit a baseball and reevaluate.
Yet teams with more offense up the middle (C – CF) are a lot more likely to make the playoffs.
And the O’s are going with Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy along with Schoop. How much more offense is really possible there without sacrificing some defense or the money that could be used elsewhere to bolster the rotation & bullpen?
The more the better. That’s the kind of setup that can keep an offense productive year in and year out, and helps a team be a perennial playoff contender. Much like the Yankees in the 1990’s. Up the middle, Wieters and Jones are the productive bats. Overall their middle IF is below league average offensively. So you have a more typical up the middle setup there. Adding Kendrick would give the O’s an up the middle scenario more similar to what the Angels have now with Iannetta, Kendrick, Aybar, and Trout.
The defense is debatable; Howie Kendrick has shown he’s one of the better defensive 2B in the game. Schoop just came up and looks quite athletic but Kendrick has years of well-above average defense. It’s hard to say Schoop is better defensively and it’s wrong to say he’s “way better”.
Nats can put together an appealing package of arms for the Halo’s.
Like who? Stras/Gio/Fister/Zimm/Roark won’t be in there. Detwiler won’t be enough. You figure Giolito and Cole are off the table. Maybe Detwiler and Taylor Jordan.
Kendrick only has one year left on his deal, so that shirks his value a bit. Detwiler for sure would be in the discussion. Detwiler, Blake Treinen and Craig Stammen are trade candidates.
Also, Clippard/Storen may be up for grabs depending on the deal.
Ah, thought he had 2 years left. Detwiler still wouldn’t be enough on his own. He and Teinen could work.
That’s a team in dire need of a more productive 2B. However, much like the Angels, the Nationals have a well balanced offense overall. So on the whole, do they really need HK? If they decide they need his production, then I can see them putting together a neat package for him.
Jays are on everyone’s no trade list.. Ughhh
Canadian taxes =(
The Yankees could have an interest in Kendrick. It would end their pursuit of Chase Headley, probably, with Martin Prado shifting to third base. They also then might want to pursue someone who could play first base and the outfield, a Michael Cuddyer/Nick Swisher type player, to back up Mark Teixeira. Kendrick’s definitely a more attractive option than Hanley Ramirez, is bad defensively and can’t stay healthy.
Yankees need starting pitching as well. Doesn’t make much sense.
I though he like to play in Toronto the turf will add some points to his batting average.
Marlins need a second baseman and Howie Kendrick is a good one to get but if your the Marlins who would you trade to get him
Assuming the Bucs don’t re-sign Martin, I’d want them to go after Kendrick, move Walker to 1b and dump all the 1b they’ve collected. Pirates have some worthwhile parts they can dangle – Pedro Alvarez, Travis Snider, Justin Wilson/Jared Hughes, maybe even Tony Watson.
Losing Martin means a loss of about 3 WAR when downgraded to whomever the Bucs get to catch. Kendrick bumps up WAR at 2b while Walker’s newfound power should make him an .830-ish OPS guy at 1b, far better than Ike Davis/Gaby Sanchez.
I agree for the most part but Gaby Sanchez is a much, much better hitter against LHP than Neil Walker. Walker crushes righties but hits like a shortstop against lefties. Gaby’s got a career .291/.382/.481 line against LHP; Walker’s is .264/.323/.346.
Look Angels. Just negotiate a contract extension. There’s no better 2nd basemen in the marketplace, and won’t be next year either. He’s a fan favorite, a gold glove, a producer at the plate. What exactly are you looking for if it isn’t the tools Howie brings to the game every day???
It’s situations like this that make you wonder about the Hamilton/Pujols signings.
You would’ve been ecstatic if your team signed them at the time. It’s too easy to second guess in hindsight. They’re shopping Kendrick to free up salary and their offense is well balanced enough to absorb the loss in production. All 9 of their regulars had OPS+ over 100. And what they lose in his production they can offset with the pitching they get in return, and with any additional pitching moves they make.
I really would not have been happy with either of those signings at all. You can check my post history and see that I think that Madoff was a blessing in disguise for the Mets. I’m not sure you understand the magnitude of the Hamilton/Pujols signings.
They need the salary relief. And it’s not going to cripple their offense either. One of the most well balanced offenses in the game. They’ve been able to absorb the struggles/losses of Pujols and Hamilton over the last two seasons because of this. So losing Kendrick isn’t going to put them in any kind of hole.
Why are the Mets on this list? They have Murphy and won’t be adding much salary plus Dilson Herrera will be the 2nd baseman in the future. It would make more sense to have the Yanks since he could get a bonus to waive the no trade clause even if he would want to join. I don’t get Marlins or the Rays for tax reasons either..
Right – I’m a bit surprised by the article. It looks like the Mets are looking to trade a 2B, not acquire one. The Mets would be looking for an SS if they add from outside the organization, not a 2B. At 2B, you point out the team has Herrera but they also have Flores and Reynolds.
If Kendrick goes on the market he won’t be a bargain. Any interested team will be paying more for him than just his salary. I’m surprised nobody mentioned this already.
Nats seem like a really good match. Would have the young MLB-ready pitching prospects to do it