LA Dodgers sign second baseman Howie Kendrick

The Los Angeles Dodgers' offseason has been a disappointment for the most part, but the team's recent  announcement that they had re-signed infielder Howie Kendrick to a two-year contract constitutes a huge step toward realizing their postseason dreams.  Other outlets have reported that the deal is worth $20 million.

The veteran Kendrick still is a consistent hitter who also provides a stable presence defensively for young shortstop and double-play partner, Corey Seager.

In his first year with the Dodgers in 2015, Kendrick batted .295 with 22 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, and 54 RBI in 117 games during the regular season. He started in all five NLDS games against the Mets, hitting .273 with a double, a home run, and four RBI. He ranked fifth in the National League with a .360 batting average with runners in scoring position (36-for-100) and also posted a .335 (64-for-191) mark with runners on base.

In 59 home games last season, Kendrick hit .312 (72-for-231) with 13 doubles, six home runs and 29 RBI and has a .316 career batting average (97-for-307) in 79 games at Dodger Stadium, the fourth-highest mark among active players (min. 100 AB). Kendrick did miss significant time last season due to a hamstring injury.

The Dodgers previously made a qualifying offer to Kendrick, and seemed content to let him walk away in free agency knowing that they would receive a high compensatory draft pick for their loss.  Perhaps that is why Kendrick found the demand for his services to be so low, as teams did not want to part with that pick.

Nevermind that such a strategy failed to grasp the fans' desire to win a title this season, it would have also made the Dee Gordon deal -- the trade that ultimately brought Kendrick to the Dodgers -- that much more of a disaster.

Now with Kendrick, there is some renewed hope of competing in a loaded NL West Division.  With the loss of star pitcher Zack Greinke to the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers need all the help they can get, and Kendrick provides the team with solid production they can rely on every night.

Kendrick, 32, has a .293 career batting average with 271 doubles, 87 home runs and 555 RBI in 1,198 games in 10 MLB seasons with the Angels (2006-14) and Dodgers (2015). The 2011 All-Star has a .986 career fielding percentage, appearing primarily at second base, and has hit well in the clutch during the course of his career, posting a .298 batting average with runners in scoring position and a .299 mark with runners on base.

The Florida native was originally selected by the Angels in the 10th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Johns River Community College (FL), prior to being acquired by the Dodgers on December 10, 2014 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney.  Heaney was acquired by the Dodgers in a prior deal for second baseman and recent All-Star Dee Gordon.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services