It’s been a sluggish winter for second baseman Howie Kendrick, who hit .295/.336/.409 with nine home runs and 54 RBI in 117 games last season for the Dodgers. He rejected a one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer from Los Angeles in November, which means his free agency is tied to draft pick compensation. And he’ll turn 33 years old this July.
One option, if Kendrick gets desperate enough, could be Arizona.
Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart addressed the idea this week with beat writer Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic ...As for free-agent options at second base, Stewart said he did not speak with Daniel Murphy, who recently signed a three-year deal with the Nationals, but has talked to Howie Kendrick, though he didn’t sound optimistic on that front.
“I just don’t know how far we’re going to get down the road with that,” Stewart said, sounding extremely hesitant to give up another draft pick in addition to the one the club surrendered to sign Greinke.
Chris Owings is currently projected to open the 2016 season as the Diamondbacks’ primary starter at second base, with Aaron Hill backing him up in a utility role. Owings batted just .227/.264/.322 in 147 games last season for Arizona, but he was a consensus top-100 prospect two winters ago and he is only 24 years old.
