Call to the pen
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Philadelphia Phillies: Howie Kendrick’s Role as a Stopgap

By Tal Venada

Kendrick Could End up as the Second Baseman in 2017. Photo by Gary A. Vasquez - USA TODAY Sports.
Kendrick Could End up as the Second Baseman in 2017. Photo by Gary A. Vasquez - USA TODAY Sports. /
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Kendrick Points Toward the Dugout to Challenge the Call. Photo by Richard Mackson – USA TODAY Sports.
Kendrick Points Toward the Dugout to Challenge the Call. Photo by Richard Mackson – USA TODAY Sports. /

By mid-December, the hours of roster research, phone conversations and in-person meetings will bring the possibility of one additional change to the starting lineup of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Modus Operandi: 

Patterns basically define our daily life because we have the restriction of time: Our survival depends on meeting our necessary obligations in an organized fashion.

If anyone is expecting a big expenditure on the free agent market, they can anticipate disappointment. In other words, even though management has the money regardless of the price, the club hasn’t produced a winning campaign: 82-80. Ergo, the next rung on the ladder is to have more victories than defeats.

Among his many questions, Double D, a poster at another site, was curious about improvements during the offseason. Well, those answers are in the previous transactions of Matt Klentak, the general manager: Jeremy Hellickson, Charlie Morton, Pat Neshek and Howie Kendrick. That stated, after he accepted a qualifying offer of $17.2 million, Hellickson is now the veteran in the rotation. Neshek is the experienced hand in the bullpen, and Kendrick is the vet in the order, which indicates only a move for a left-handed bat with power is still on their wish list.

Four salary dumps:

  • Hellickson from the Arizona Diamondbacks for $7 million.
  • Morton from the Pittsburgh Pirates for $9 million including a $1 million buyout.
  • Neshek from the Houston Astros for $6.5 million.
  • Kendrick from the Los Angeles Dodgers for $10 million.

Searching for candidates in their final guaranteed year, Klentak sought a franchise wanting to free up dollars for other needs. And when Los Angeles (NL) had an available outfielder and multi-positional player, Double D, the GM struck a deal. He eyed Kendrick with the Dodgers because he’ll be a free agent after 2017, and the exec needed a stopgap in left field. In other words, taking on the entire $10 million contract only required the decision-maker to part with two reserves.

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