Dodgers re-sign Howie Kendrick to two-year, $20 million deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to re-sign second baseman Howie Kendrick, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported. 

The sides have agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. 

Kendrick has had a fascinating offseason. 

Right from the get-go, the Dodgers offered Kendrick a $15.8 million qualifying offer. He declined, meaning that if he signed elsewhere, the Dodgers would get an extra draft pick and the team signing him would lose their first unprotected selection. This was apparently a big turn off. 

Kendrick played the waiting game, but his market never really seemed to pick up. The Diamondbacks and Angels were connected to him at different points of the offseason, but nothing materialized. 

In his new deal, Kendrick doesn't get quite the value of the qualifying offer, but gets the long-term security he so desired. 

Kendrick's contract doesn't compare quite favorably to other top second baseman who signed this offseason. Daniel Murphy and Ben Zobrist, both considered superior options to Kendrick, signed for $12.5 and $14 million per year, respectively. They also both got deals of three years or more. 

Regardless of the terms, Kendrick is an interesting fit now that he's back in LA. 

Los Angeles re-signed Chase Utley this offseason. They have Enrique Hernandez, who can play the middle infield as well. But neither will start, as the team has Kendrick, top prospect Corey Seager, and Justin Turner playing second, short, and third in 2016. This signing gives the Dodgers an extremely deep bench and makes them even more versatile.

Last season, Kendrick hit .295/.336/.406 with nine home runs and 64 RBIs in 495 plate appearances. According to FanGraphs, he was worth 2.1 Wins Above Replacement. 

The 32-year-old was the Angels' 10th round pick in the 2002 MLB Draft. In 10 big league seasons, Kendrick is a career .293/.333/.423 hitter and has been worth 25.9 fWAR with the Angels and Dodgers. 

--Devan Fink

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