Word has dropped Howie Kendrick will be returning for a farewell tour. The Los Angeles Angels should bring him back home, and not just for goodwill.
After hitting the decisive home run of the 2019 World Series, Howie Kendrick was poised to enter retirement following the 2020 season. Not only was he robbed of getting year-long accolades, by playing games in front of empty stadiums, he was deprived a full season of which to make his last in professional baseball.
Kendrick has decided to play another year and the team who should be dialing his number is the team he spent his first nine years in the league with. The Los Angeles Angeles were that team, and they do not owe Howie anything. However, they are a team on the rise and Kendrick fills a need for them as a veteran bat off the bench.
Kendrick played the first thousand games of his career in California and beyond being an All-Star with the Angels, was a fan favorite as well.
After spending time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, Kendrick has played for the Washington Nationals the past four years. In the 2019 run to the title, Kendrick hit .344 with 17 regular season home runs. He added two more postseason homers, including a grand slam to catapult the Nationals past the Dodgers in the NLDS.
An injury riddled 2020 is now in the rearview mirror as Kendrick claims to be healthy and ready to go in 2021.
Howie Kendrick plans to play next season, sources tell the Athletic. He has already drawn some interest and will look to play "at least" one more year. Had thought about retiring.
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) November 30, 2020
Enter the Los Angeles Angels. They have a lot of money on the books with $118 million tied up in just four players. In the current market, Kendrick could be had at a reasonable price and he provides decent versatility. The 37-year-old can still play second base and first base at a respectable level, providing more than just a good bat off the bench.
This relationship would benefit both parties, if Kendrick were able to return to Los Angeles. The Angels get a veteran bat who can still produce. Kendrick gets to return to where it all began, riding into the sunset in front of the fans he grew up playing for.