Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Howie Kendrick ideal free agent addition

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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 4: Al Avila laughs during a news conference at Comerica Park after he was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager on August 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Avila replaces Dave Dombrowski who was the Tigers’ general manager since 2002. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers fans could conceivably see the team make some additions this offseason. One free agent who would be an ideal fit is the versatile Howie Kendrick.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila and the rest of the front office enter an offseason in need of veteran stop gaps.

The team doesn’t need to sign an entire team of veteran placeholders for future prospects, but adding starting pitcher or two, a middle infielder, an extra outfielder and a reliever would certainly seem prudent.

With some uncertainty in the rotation, Jose Iglesias and Ian Kinsler hypothetical trade candidates, a log jam full of question marks in center field and a young bullpen, there are needs aplenty.

Long term, those positions shouldn’t be areas of need.

From Franklin Perez and Beau Burrows to Grayson Long, Matt Hall and Sandy Baez, there are plenty of starting pitching prospects starting to reach the upper levels of the minors.

Elsewhere, Isaac Paredes has exciting all-around potential up the middle, while Daz Cameron and Derek Hill make for a promising outfield pairing.

There’s also Christin Stewart, who could be the Tigers’ answer in left field.

Ahead of Cameron and Hill on the minor league ladder, the slugger would likely push Mikie Mahtook to center field until the duo are ready, easing any needs for a center fielder.

Bullpen-wise, a veteran arm could help ease the burden on some of the team’s younger pitchers.

Still, the reality is that none of those aforementioned prospects will likely be ready by Opening Day 2018.

SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 18: Howie Kendrick #4 of the Washington Nationals hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 18, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Prospects

We could see reliever Bryan Garcia or perhaps outfielder Mike Gerber earlier, but that’s about it.

The likes of Perez, Burrows, Long and Stewart are more likely to be in Detroit by the time the trade deadline rolls around at the earliest.

However, until then, the Detroit Tigers need stop-gap options.

Any stop-gap option the team signs or acquires needs to be on a short-term contract. That way there’s no financial burden and the player can be easily moved for more prospects in July.

Howie Kendrick

One potential free agent this offseason who could fill a number of the team’s needs is Howie Kendrick.

A 12-year veteran and former All-Star with the Angels in 2011, Kendrick made his mark in the Majors early on as one of the game’s better offensive second baseman.

After nine seasons with the Halos, the 34-year-old moved to the Dodgers, where he started to play at more positions around the diamond.

The infielder made the move to the outfield, where he’s seen the bulk of his playing time in a 2017 season split between the Phillies and Nationals.

Still, Kendrick also logged innings at second base and first base. He also moonlighted as an occasional third baseman with the Dodgers.

In other words, he’s versatile—that’s exactly what the Detroit Tigers need at this point.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 12: Howie Kendrick #4 of the Washington Nationals catches a fly ball hit by Matt Kemp #27 of the Atlanta Braves (no pictured) in the seventh inning at Nationals Park on September 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Filling a need

While Kendrick isn’t exactly a starting pitcher or reliever, he could help fill pretty much every other need the Detroit Tigers have in the field.

The veteran’s defense in left field has taken somewhat of a dip in terms of value from 2016 (4.3 UZR/150, 0 DRS) to 2017 (-2.3 UZR/150, -4 DRS).

The former Dodger also turned in a 12.2 UZR/150 and a 0 DRS in a miniscule 22 inning sample in right field last season.

Still, those stats a decent overall improvement over some of the corner outfield defense got Detroit last season.

Howie Kendrick 2017 defensive metrics in left field (458.2 innings): -2.3 UZR/150, -4 DRS.

J.D. Martinez 2017 defensive metrics in right field (438 innings): -7.8 UZR/150, -6 DRS.

Alex Presley 2017 defensive metrics in right field (259.2 innings): -0.9 UZR/150, -7 DRS.

Nicholas Castellanos 2017 defensive metrics in right field (173 innings): -80.5 UZR/150, -7 DRS.

Tyler Collins 2017 defensive metrics in right field (128.2 innings): -19.2 UZR/150, -2 DRS.

Mikie Mahtook 2017 defensive metrics in left field (113.1): 12.3 UZR/150, -5 DRS.

Kendrick could also fill in across the infield.

If Kinsler is traded, the veteran could log significant innings at the position, where he owns a career 4.0 UZR/150 and a +13 DRS in 9741.1 innings, including a 2.4 UZR/150 and a +1 DRS in 129 innings at the position last season.

What’s more, Kendrick could also spell Jeimer Candelario occasionally at third base.

However, perhaps most significantly, Kendrick can play first base.

He’s only seen action in 91 innings at the position since the start of the 2012 campaign, but the 34-year-old has logged 660.1 innings at first in his career.

Finding a first baseman should be paramount for Detroit this offseason.

Miguel Cabrera needs to move off the position to designated hitter in order to prolong both his effectiveness at the plate and his career in general.

Adding Kendrick to help man first would certainly help.

The Tigers could move the versatile fielder across the diamond from the outfield corners to second and first base. He’d be an ideal candidate to share time with John Hicks at first.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 09: Howie Kendrick #4 of the Washington Nationals hits a solo home run in the first inning during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on September 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

At the plate

While Kendrick’s versatility in the field adds value, the longtime Major Leaguer also turned in a strong offensive season in 2017.

The veteran hit .315 with a .368 on-base percentage, a .475 slugging percentage, a .844 OPS, a .361 wOBA, a .161 ISO and a 121 wRC+ in 334 plate appearances.

He also tacked on nine home runs, 12 stolen bases, 40 runs scored and 41 RBI.

That was partly fueled by a .378 BABIP, but it showed that Kendrick still has life in his bat after a down 2016 campaign that saw him bat .255 with a .326 on-base percentage, a .366 slugging percentage, .691 OPS, a .303 wOBA, a .111 ISO and a 90 wRC+ in 543 plate appearances.

That season, Kendrick’s BABIP was a more mundane .301.

The reality is that the utility player probably isn’t going to turn in another .800 OPS. For as successful as his career has been, the 34-year-old had just one before 2017.

Still, he probably isn’t going to clock in with a sub-.700 OPS like he did in 2016 with a .691 OPS.

He’d also give the Tigers another option to plug in atop the team’s lineup. Outside of Kinsler, there aren’t any locks to hit in front of Cabrera.

If the Detroit Tigers are able to sign a versatile defensive player like Kendrick—who ends up posting a .700s OPS and develops into a trade chip—to a one-year deal, it would be an ideal situation for the franchise.

Next: Should Tigers trade away arbitration eligible players?

Even more ideal if the team is able to flip him for a future Major League piece at the trade deadline

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Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Howie Kendrick is ideal free agent addition