Howie Kendrick To Return To Dodgers In 2-Year, $20M Deal

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Dodgers infielder Howie Kendrick signed a two-year, $20 million contract Thursday to stay in Los Angeles.

Kendrick, 32, batted .295 with 22 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 54 RBI in 117 games in his first year with the Dodgers in 2015, ranking him fifth in the National League.

The Dodgers had initially extended Kendrick a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer, which he rejected in the hopes of landing a multi-year deal.

Instead, the shorter-term $20 million agreement was "a compromise on both sides", according to MLB.com.

Kendrick's return solidifies second base, where the team's other options are Kike Hernandez and veteran Chase Utley, who was re-signed to a $7 million, one-year deal. Utley could also back up third baseman Justin Turner, who is recovering from knee surgery.

The Dodgers made the official announcement on their Twitter page with a message that read, "Welcome back Howie!"

A Florida native who was originally selected by the Angels in the 10th round of the 2002 first-year player draft, Kendrick was acquired by the Dodgers in Dec. 2014 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney.

Kendrick, a 2011 All-Star, has a .293 career batting average with 271 doubles, 87 home runs and 555 RBI in 1,198 games in 10 MLB seasons.

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