The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for LHP Andrew Heaney, who was just acquired himself only a few hours earlier from the Marlins in the six-player trade that sent Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to Miami.
Kendrick, 32 in July, has spent his entire nine year career with the Halo’s, and has hit at a .292/.332/.424 clip in 1,081 career games. Kendrick is set to hit the free agent market for the first time at the conclusion of the 2015 season.
The Angels return in the deal is 23 year old LHP prospect, Andrew Heaney. Heaney, the #18 prospect in baseball, has had a busy day as he has been traded for the second time in less than 24 hours. He went 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA in seven games (five starts) for Miami this season, but posted a 2.77 ERA with 262 strikeouts in 259.2 innings over three minor league seasons. He isn’t arbitration eligible until 2018, and can hit the free agent market in 2021.
In a separate report, the Dodgers are also closing in on a four-year deal with RHP Brandon McCarthy, according to Ken Rosenthal.
McCarthy, also 32 in July, spent this past season splitting time between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees. He compiled a 10-15 record with a 4.05 ERA in 32 starts in 2014.
Thoughts:
It’s been a busy 18 hours for the Dodgers, who, earlier today acquired Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies, and sent Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Marlins, and now acquiring Kendrick while closing in on Brandon McCarthy. They are certainly shaking it up in Los Angeles, as they have a new duo up the middle, and will likely add McCarthy to their rotation behind Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu.
However, with Los Angeles sending Heaney to the Angels, one has to wonder if that was to free up a spot in the rotation to make room for someone of the likes of James Shields or Max Scherzer? They certainly have the money and can easily pounce on one of the two top line remaining starters. Stay tuned.
