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.