Dodgers get Howie Kendrick from Angels in exchange for top prospect

The Los Angeles Dodgers traded for Howie Kendrick from the Angels, and for prospects infielder/outfielder Kike Hernandez, catcher Austin Barnes, and right-handed reliever Chris Hatcher from the Marlins.

The acquisitions were made through two separate trades. The Dodgers acquired Hernandez, Barnes, Hatcher and left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney in exchange for second baseman Dee Gordon, right-handed pitcher Dan Haren, infielder Miguel Rojas and a player to be named later or cash considerations. Subsequently, they traded Heaney to the Angels in exchange for Kendrick.

The centerpiece acquisition for the Dodgers in these transactions, at least in the immediate future, is Howie Kendrick.

Kendrick, 31, batted .293 in 157 games with the Angels last year and established career-best marks in hits (181), RBI (75, also: 2010), walks (48) and on-base percentage (.347, also: 2007). In his nine MLB seasons, Kendrick, a 2011 All Star, has a .292 career batting average and a .986 career fielding percentage, appearing primarily at second base.

Kendrick is the Dodgers obvious replacement for Gordon at second base. His experience and proven track record suggest he might be an upgrade for the Dodgers, especially on the defense end.

Nonetheless, trading away Gordon to the Marlins was a big gamble for Los Angeles because it is still unclear if the 2014 All Star has even reached his potential yet. The 26-year old MLB leader in steals (64) and triples (12) batted .289 last season for the Dodgers.

The Angels were undoubtedly only willing to part with Kendrick, a player very much liked by the team's fans, because of the upside of 23-year old LHP Andrew Heaney.

Selected in the first round by Miami (9th overall) in the 2012 Amateur Draft. Heaney was ranked as MLB.com's No. 1 left-handed prospect in the minors entering the 2014 season, the 6’2”, 190-pound hurler began the campaign with Double-A Jacksonville and was promoted to Triple-A New Orleans in May. Heaney combined to go 9-6 with a 3.28 ERA (137.1 IP – 50 ER) and 143 strikeouts in 24 games at the minor league level (23 starts). He made his Major League debut on June 19, 2014 against the New York Mets (6 IP – 1 ER) and pitched in seven games (five starts) in 2014 with Miami (5.83 ERA; 29.1 IP – 19 ER).

Notes - The other Dodgers acquisitions

Hernandez, 23, combined to hit .319 with 25 doubles, 11 homers and 42 RBI in 98 minor league games in 2014 with Double-A Corpus Christi, Triple-A Oklahoma City and Triple-A New Orleans.

Barnes, 24, was a Single-A Florida State League All-Star in 2014, combining to hit .304 with a .398 on-base percentage, 13 home runs and 57 RBI in 122 games with Single-A Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville. In addition to appearing in 73 games behind the plate, Barnes played in 30 games at second base and 15 at third base.

Hatcher, 29, appeared in a career-high 52 games for the Marlins last year, posting a 3.38 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 56.0 innings. He opened the season with Triple-A New Orleans, where he went 1-2 with five saves and a 2.01 ERA in 15 appearances.

Notes - The others Dodgers losses

Haren, 34, went 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA in 32 starts last year, his only season with the Dodgers. The Monterey Park, CA, native has a 142-122 record with a 3.77 ERA in 12 Major League seasons with the Cardinals, Athletics, D-backs, Angels, Nationals and Dodgers.

Rojas, 25, appeared in 85 games with the Dodgers last year in his first big league action after nine minor league seasons in the Cincinnati and Los Angeles organizations. He was originally signed by the Reds in 2005 as a non-drafted free agent.

by Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com