Report: Dodgers trying to bring back Howie Kendrick.

Howie Kendrick

Howie Kendrick hit nine nine home runs and drove in 54 in his first season with the Dodgers. (Keith Birmingham/Staff photographer)

Howie Kendrick, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Dodgers at the end of last season, could return in 2016 according to a report Friday morning.
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reported via Twitter that the Dodgers are “making progress” on a new contract with the free agent second baseman.

Because Kendrick rejected the Dodgers’ qualifying offer, the team stands to gain a compensatory draft pick (after the first round) if he signs somewhere else.

Kendrick, who turns 33 in July, appeared in 117 games last season, his fewest this decade, by virtue of a hamstring injury. He posted a .295/.336/.409 slash line along with nine home runs and 54 RBIs.

The Dodgers re-signed veteran Chase Utley to a one-year, $7 million contract in December. He and Enrique Hernandez stood to split time at second base if the Dodgers didn’t bring back Kendrick. The Dodgers also acquired Micah Johnson, a left-handed hitting second baseman, from the Chicago White Sox in the trade that sent Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler to the Cincinnati Reds.

This entry was posted in Hot Stove, JP on the Dodgers and tagged by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.

About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.