Image Credit: SI.com
Just as one “Howie” ends his Phillies career, another begins his in the red and white pinstripes. On Friday, the Phillies acquired INF/OF Howie Kendrick from the Dodgers in exchange for 1B Darin Ruf and 2B Darnell Sweeney. It’s the Phillies’ second noteworthy addition of the offseason, after the club traded for and exercised the $6.5 million 2017 club option on righty reliever Pat Neshek a week earlier, in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. The trade for Kendrick isn’t one that will turn too many heads, but it was a smart deal for a handful of reasons. For starters, the Phils gave up essentially nothing for Kendrick, a proven Major Leaguer and former All-Star. Here are a few more reasons to love the under-the-radar Kendrick trade. Veteran presence to young team With the departure of Ryan Howard, there are no remaining members of the 2008 World Series team still on the Phillies’ roster. As a result, the roster is made up of mostly young talent – and very few veterans. Kendrick, 33, brings 11 years of Major League experience to a team that will have no one else in its starting lineup over the age of 28 to start the 2017 season. Kendrick can help mentor the Phillies’ younger players and provide that veteran wisdom and knowledge that any rebuilding team so desperately covets. He can mentor a player like Maikel Franco, a fellow infielder, with both his defense and more specifically at the plate. Franco is a free swinger, so Kendrick, a patient, disciplined hitter, can work with Franco on his approach and swing selection. Franco is a native Spanish speaker, but he speaks English very well, so Kendrick won’t have an issue there mentoring one of the Phillies’ top hitters. In terms of his play on the field, Kendrick can lead by example. He’ll most likely hit second or fifth in the Phils’ lineup, either before or after Franco and Tommy Joseph, who should hit third and fourth, respectively. Kendrick’s presence alone in the lineup can take the pressure off the Phillies’ younger hitters who may try to do too much. The Phillies probably won’t be ready to compete for a playoff spot in 2017, but they very well could in 2018. After seeing what veterans like Mike Napoli and Coco Crisp, and Ben Zobrist and David Ross, for example, did for the Indians and Cubs this season, it’s easy to believe the veteran Kendrick can have his own positive influence on the Phils. Position/lineup flexibility After spending basically the entire first 10 seasons of his career at second base, Kendrick played 94 games (79 starts) in left field in 2016. Prior to this past season, Kendrick had only played 26 career games at the keystone. But with Chase Utley at second and multiple injuries to the Dodgers’ outfield in 2016, Kendrick found a new home in the outfield, becoming a more versatile player. He can also play first and third base in a pinch. Kendrick is a career .289 hitter and his bat is what has always kept him in the lineup, but his increased position flexibility will only help him moving forward. He’s been durable throughout his career, playing in at least 140 games in five of his last seven seasons. If he stays healthy in 2017, Kendrick will be a fixture in the Phillies’ lineup. Kendrick’s increased versatility will give Phils’ manager Pete Mackanin a few different options when filling out his lineup card. He’ll be able to play left or second any day of the week, and switch between those two spots mid-game if Mackanin wants to make a double switch. He’ll also be able to spell Joseph at first or Franco at the hot corner if absolutely needed. He’s by no means a super-utility player and won’t be used that way, especially at this point in his career, but Kendrick will be a key piece to the Phillies lineup in 2017 as a versatile defender. Additional trade options Kendrick will reportedly be the Phillies’ everyday left fielder in 2016, which is interesting given the team’s decent outfield depth. But if that plan sticks, Odubel Herrera will be in center with either Roman Quinn or Aaron Altherr in right. The better option might be to play Kendrick at second base, his natural position, so both Quinn and Altherr can get everyday reps at the corners. Quinn is the more promising player of the two, but Altherr has raw gap power and a strong arm, so the Phils will want to see what he can do in more action. If the Phillies do decide to play Kendrick at second, Caesar Hernandez becomes expendable, which is why the Phils are reportedly shopping Hernandez right now. In 2016, Hernandez batted .294 (161 hits) with six HR, 39 RBIs and a .371 OBP in 155 games – all careers highs. He hit consistently the entire second half and played solid defense as well. His value may never be higher, so the Phillies can sell high with the chance to bring back a solid return for a switch-hitting middle infielder that can help a contender. If the Phillies can’t find a trade partner for Hernandez, however, he’ll stay as the team’s starting second baseman, which would cement Kendrick as the starting left fielder and send either Quinn or Altherr to the bench, probably Altherr. That’s not a bad scenario either, as Hernandez could very well continue his breakout production moving forward. Either way, the trade for Kendrick gives the Phillies additional trade options.
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March 2020
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