The Los Angeles Dodgers traded second baseman Dee Gordon in the offseason and acquired Howie Kendrick to take his place. They also traded outfielder Matt Kemp and let shortstop Hanley Ramirez walk in free agency. The moves were questioned at first, but Kendrick has helped make a case for the Dodgers' front office.
Kendrick, 31, is batting .297/.355/.450/.805 with 31 runs scored, 6 home runs and 27 RBIs in 55 games this season. While it's not quite the .362/.387/.428/.815 stat line Gordon has put up with the Miami Marlins, Kendrick has provided veteran leadership, a good defensive option up the middle and a presence in the middle of the order, specifically batting cleanup.
"In 2015, Kendrick has started 26 games as the Dodgers' No. 3 hitter and 26 games at No. 4. In the former position, the second baseman has been his normal, slap-hitting self, with gap power and a .371 slugging percentage. In the latter, he's been an unlikely slugger - collecting five of his six home runs, 23 of his 27 RBI and posting a superb .539 slugging percentage," writes Pedro Moura of the Orange County Register.
Manager Don Mattingly might be inclined to keep him there once he looks at those numbers, even though the stats could be a mere coincidence.
Perhaps once viewed as a stopgap for a number of other infield options the Dodgers have in the pipeline (Hector Olivera, Darnell Sweeney), it appears as if there's a chance Kendrick remains with the team beyond 2015, unlike fellow middle infielder Jimmy Rollins, who is more than likely a temporary fill-in for top prospect Corey Seager.
"There have been whispers that the Dodgers could look to extend Kendrick, but that has always seemed questionable with the club's dizzying array of options at second and third. But a qualifying offer is definitely in play, and entering the market weighed down by draft compensation could have some effect on Kendrick's earning capacity," Jeff Todd of MLBTradeRumors.com wrote in late May.
Todd is right. The Dodgers' plan is unclear. Olivera can play either second or third once he arrives (he was primarily a second baseman in Cuba). Sweeney, who is batting .265/.329/.397 with 30 runs scored, 16 doubles, 24 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 54 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, could continue to make his case to earn a spot on the team next season.
Whatever the case, Kendrick doesn't seem too concerned as he continues to march on with his own philosophy.
"I live for where I'm at. I think that's the biggest thing. I cherish the time I spent with the Angels. Twelve years there, minor leagues and major leagues - it helped shape me to be the player I am now," Kendrick told Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.
"Coming to this organization, I'm bringing everything I learned there here. I've been successful doing that so far, and I'm going to try and continue to play it the way I know how. As far as the uniform, guys switching so often nowadays, I don't think there are many guys who stay in one uniform."
It all depends on where the Dodgers use Olivera and whether or not Sweeney shows he's ready for the majors this season. If the Dodgers aren't interested, there will certainly be suitors for Kendrick once he hits free agency in the offseason.
