Second baseman Howie Kendrick has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to multiple reports. The Angels will acquire left-handed Andrew Heaney in return, whom they had just acquired late Wednesday night in a separate deal that shipped Dee Gordon to the Miami Marlins.
For the Dodgers, Kendrick represents an immediate replacement for Gordon. Not as fast or dangerous on the bases as Gordon, the Dodgers will lose a tremendous amount of speed in its lineup. That’s about all they’ll be losing in the swap, however, as Kendrick hits for a higher average, plays stronger defense and is far more productive in run-scoring opportunities.
During Kendrick’s stint with the Angels he hit .292 and drove in 501 runs over nine seasons. The lowest he’s ever hit for in a single season was .279, a far above average number in today’s game. He also has more power than his numbers may indicate. Kendrick didn’t hit for home run power in 2014, but he drove in 75 runners and added 33 doubles. Rather than attempt to swing for the fences, Kendrick picks his moments to attack. He’s the classic professional hitter.
While the loss of Kendrick hurts the Angels, the team should benefit from the deal as well. Heaney represents a young and affordable piece for the future. He saw limited action with the Marlins in 2014, making just seven appearances including three starts with unimpressive results that aren’t indicative of his talent. He’s viewed as a major prospect with high upside.