Last week Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported that the Angels were likely to shop second baseman Howie Kendrick and now Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet Canada writes that the Blue Jays “have placed multiple calls on his availability this year.”
Kendrick hit .293 with seven homers and a .744 OPS in 157 games this season, basically matching his career totals and ranking among the league’s best all-around second basemen. However, the Angels are willing to deal him because Kendrick will be a free agent after next season and they have in-house options to replace him in Grant Green and Gordon Beckham.
In nine seasons as a big leaguer Kendrick has never hit below .275 or posted an OPS under .720. He doesn’t have much power and swings at everything, but Kendrick has plus speed, a good glove, and has consistently been an above-average hitter at an up-the-middle position.
