UPDATE: Kendrick is heading back to Los Angeles, with Rosenthal reporting that the two sides have agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal.
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There’s reportedly no chance of unsigned free agent shortstop Ian Desmond returning to the Nationals, but unsigned second baseman Howie Kendick could potentially end up back with the Dodgers.
At least according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, who reports that the Dodgers are “considering” re-signing Kendrick despite currently having Enrique Hernandez and Chase Utley penciled in at second base. Los Angeles wouldn’t have to forfeit a draft pick to re-sign Kendrick, but if you assume he’d eventually sign elsewhere they’d essentially be giving up whatever draft pick would come their way once that happens.
Earlier this week I ranked Kendrick as the No. 2 remaining free agent and the Dodgers could potentially move Hernandez back into a super-utility man role to make room for his return at second base. That would also push Utley into a more limited role, but at age 37 he may be best suited for fewer at-bats anyway.
At the start of the offseason Kendrick turned down a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer from the Dodgers, but the draft pick compensation attached to his free agency has no doubt hurt his market. The question now is whether the Dodgers’ offer to re-sign him would be for less than the qualifying offer he turned down.
Kendrick hit .295 with nine homers and a .746 OPS in 117 games for the Dodgers last season and has batted at least .285 with an OPS above .725 in each of the past five years.
