With memories of his postseason heroics still fresh in mind, Howie Kendrick is drawing widespread interest in free agency. After reports this week connected the veteran infielder to the Rays and Marlins, the Reds can be counted as a third team reportedly interested in acquiring Kendrick’s services, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (link).
For a club expected to pursue offensive improvements, Kendrick seems to make a perfect bedfellow. The 36-year-old just wrapped a .344/.395/.572 regular season showing over 370 plate appearances (before accounting for October exploits), and his Statcast numbers gave exuberant support to his mastery at the plate. His defensive fit on the club would presumably lead to a few more chess moves, however, considering that the club remains heavily committed to incumbent first baseman Joey Votto.
In our Offseason Outlook feature on the Cincinnati club, second base was identified as a primary need, and the former full-time keystone player did log 23 games at that spot last year. Whether or not Kendrick’s body is up for the challenge of a full slate of up-the-middle action is an open question, however; it’s worth noting that the Reds have two in-house options, in Freddy Galvis and Josh VanMeter, capable of assuming the left-handed side of a platoon with Kendrick. It’s possible the team could also squeeze in a few starts for Kendrick at third, although Eugenio Suarez just wrapped an excellent season in which he logged 158 games at the hot corner. Regardless of how they might plan to ultimately squeeze Kendrick’s bat into their lineup, Cincinnati’s interest is further evidence of a rather robust early market for the versatile veteran.
Knock off daniel Murphy
Not a full time player for 162 anymore,perfect bench/Part Time player then if the Team makes the Playoffs,Whoa!
You really think HK is going to do that every year he makes the post season?
Better than DM…..
Daniel Murphy hasn’t been the same since his 2015 playoff run
Pretty sure he hit .340 with 100 rbi’s in 2016. And was excellent in 2017 too.
So they get rid of Brandon Phillips because of age, scooter gennett because of age, and now reds want to sign a 36 year old guy. Smh
i dont think Gennett was simply traded because of “age”
Ginette is just 29 and coming off an injury and didn’t hit
Genett was playing like garbage
Kendricks numbers are much better than Phillip’s. Smh
Phillips, while he was getting older, wasn’t coming off a career season like Kendrick has. Plus, Phillips was on the final year of his deal. Gennett spent a majority of his contract year injured and was traded at the deadline when the Reds knew they had basically no reason to keep him at the time.
Another good reason to avoid Howie. He is coming off a career year, this late in life.
Why pay him for what he did, when you know he probably won’t do it again.
He’s always been good hitter…..
I agree with Jorge but I also agree with Ejemp but for a different reason.
Howie is still a very good hitter and great to have on a team but is injury prone so I would be careful how much I paid him.
I don’t think anyone thinks he’ll turn in another season with an OPS north of .950, but I highly doubt he regresses to a point of being a waste of money and/or a roster spot.
Neither had to do with age, unless you use age as the reason for Phillips performance declining.
Besides their declining years and high cost? They got rid of them while they still had some value during a rebuild.
everyone should be. the guy can hit when healthy. half a year of Howie is worth a full year of most bench bats.
Reds make some sense although I think hes better suited in the AL. I’m predicting Tampa
I’m predicting Tampa too. He lives in FL.
Why do people use where a player is from or where they live in the off-season to determine where they’ll sign? I’d venture to say 95% of players don’t take that into major consideration.
Because all things being equal, what else are you going to use? Adding that one extra percent sometimes tips the scales every so slightly.
In this case I think it’s a bit higher. In TB, he’ll get ABs at 2nd, first, DH and even some in the outfield.
I think the salary will be close in all places, but ABs and being close to family tips the scales.
A chance to win.
LOL
Just about every team is interested in Howie.
The Nationals love him, and Howie loves playing there.
This is all well and good, but more then a bit ridiculous. Howie’s going back to the Nationals.
Cardinals aren’t interested in Kendrick, because they have one position, Oscar Mayer at 2B, and $19M, no position, Salsa boy at 3B.
I would love to see Howie back in DC but I kind of get the feeling they won’t be offering him the most money. Howie is a great bench bat and a great leader, but he can’t play every day. Even he will tell you that. And when he does play his defense is iffy at best. Some team is going to see those gaudy offensive numbers and throw way to much money at him, and it won’t be the Nats. Good for him
He needs to go to an AL team and DH for 4 years
A Kendrick / Van Meter keystone coupling would be sexy.
VanMeter is vastly overrated! He had a good month then nothing!
Not sure if VanMeter is “vastly” overrated because of his apparent defensive versatility and decent speed, though I agree that he probably will regress.
Howie is great. Any team who gets him will be better for it.
wish angels would sign him and bring him home
Oh hell yes, give the team a solid teammate, solid bat/glove and veteran presence to boot. I’m all for it
Reds are gonna be that team this year connected with everybody and end up with nobody huh?
You have to figure he’ll sign with a team that will give him the ABs. How are the Reds that team.
Defensively last year at second base. His DRS was +1. I believe that was the same with first base.
Ray’s or Marlins? I think the easy choice for him is obvious…..
Only 23 games at 2nd base? Where else did he play?
First
If the Reds sign Didi, I don’t see where Kendrick fits. They picked up Galvis’ option. Votto isn’t going anywhere at first & the Reds aren’t sitting Suarez with his bat. Unless they move Galvis, Kendrick can find more playing time with teams like Milwaukee or Minnesota
Amazing how much run a player can get out of a World Series.
(hello, Nathan Eovaldi)
I was going to say Juan Uribe, but Eovaldi’s an even better example.
After trading Osuna and declining the option on Thames, Milwaukee would be a good spot for Howie. They wouldn’t play him at 2B, but 1B, 3B and LF are places he can play. The bat plays anywhere.
Though I’m thinking if I were Howie, I’d opt for an AL team where I can pretty much save my body and DH 80% of the time. Hello, Boston?
Also, the Cubs could sign Howie to be a newer version of play-all-over-the-place Ben Zobrist.
How about the Angels? Thinking LA more because of Maddon’s affinity for versatile players, with HK’s return to Anaheim an added bonus.
Where is he going to play for the Angels. Not First. Not Second. Not the outfield. Not DH.
He won’t get any ABs in Anaheim. For better or for worse. Puljos and Cozart are being paid big bucks and they will get every opportunity to get those right handed ABs..
There may not be enough ABs there for Kendrick.
Then again, with Pujols tottering around 1B, Cozart coming off a major injury, Rengifo still having to prove in his sophomore season is real, and Goodwin and La Stella maybe due for some regression, there could be.
The Angels would be a great landing spot for Kendrick. He would see plenty of time at DH and first base. I doubt he goes back to a team that traded him. That’s just my gut reaction. He would definitely prolong his career if he played in the American League in the DH role.
And would Griffin Canning give up #47? Haha
Kendrick is too old, great player but not for Reds, he’ll want @B’s great DH, going back 2 Nats or 2 Junior Circuit probably Tampa, Reds need to put Senzel back @ 2nd & get a CF, if Senzel not fully recovered use Van Meter or Galvis, get Didi for SS , Grandal, and a bat @ CF done!
This shouldn’t be a thing with this org. Why? Just play Ervin and forget it.