Howie's Future

[NorCal Halo]

Where do you think Kendrick will be playing in 2015?  I don't think Howie's contract will be extended.  Could he be traded before the season for starting pitching?  I could see interest from the Mets and Royals.

[HaloCory22]

Let Green/Beckham battle it out and trade Howie.

[Adam]

2nd base

[Stradling]

I think the obvious answer is Batting Champion

[NorCal Halo]

As much as I like Kendrick and his ability to hit to the opposite field, I wouldn't mind letting Green takeover at 2nd if it brought in another starter.

[hats4bats]

Can't be the Royals. They hit in the playoffs 

[NorCal Halo]

What year was it that Howie played a lot of first base?

[laagamer]

Once again, I find myself to be in the minority in this discussion. I don't believe trading either our AS 2B or SS is a good idea.

[floplag]

it comes down to how best to help the club.
as i said im not getting into all that yet expect to say that IF you can make the club better overall by trading almost anyone, you have to at least look at options.
At some point you have to look at who is replaceable with the talent the club has, and deal from strength.
howie is a good player, but from our team he may be among the most expendable.

[mtangelsfan]

Is a number 4 pitcher worth the drop we would get in offensive and defensive production at 2B?

[nikkachez]

Don't trade either of the middle infielders. Green and Beckham are putrid alternatives to Howie. If anything I'd extend him and have him play first and left more often. The only 2nd base prospect in the system I like is Sherman Johnson in and he'll only be in AA next year. I just think Howie's a guy we'd miss when he's gone and come on, there aren't plenty of other 4-5 types on the free agent market? Royals and Mets don't make much sense either. KC has Infante under a fairly hefty contracts, the Mets are still a ways away and need more than a on year rental (they already have Murphy). 

Edited October 16, 2014 by nikkachez

[wopphil]

Is a number 4 pitcher worth the drop we would get in offensive and defensive production at 2B?

Possibly. If you are talking about a guy who can give 200 innings of 3.75 ERA - like a Jason Vargas - it could make sense.

[Angel Oracle]

Problem is, Howie suffers from Erv-itis (up one season and down the next).

[mtangelsfan]

I guess it would depend on who they would get.  It would be a pretty big gamble.

[Adam]

Problem is, Howie suffers from Erv-itis (up one season and down the next).

 

huh?

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kendrho01.shtml?redir

 

He's pretty consistent

[floplag]

Possibly. If you are talking about a guy who can give 200 innings of 3.75 ERA - like a Jason Vargas - it could make sense.

 

because he did that for us last time right...

just 2 seasons ago we got 150 IP, 1.39 WHIP, and a 4.,02 ERA out of mr Vargas and they decided not to tender him so...

[wopphil]

because he did that for us last time right...

just 2 seasons ago we got 150 IP, 1.39 WHIP, and a 4.,02 ERA out of mr Vargas and they decided not to tender him so...

Hence my words "like a." I am not actually advocating trading Kendrick for Vargas, though I would probably make that trade.

[wopphil]

because he did that for us last time right...

just 2 seasons ago we got 150 IP, 1.39 WHIP, and a 4.,02 ERA out of mr Vargas and they decided not to tender him so...

Hence my words "like a." I am not actually advocating trading Kendrick for Vargas, though I would probably make that trade.

[stormngt]

Non tendering Vargas was the one mistake by Dipoto last year.

because he did that for us last time right...

just 2 seasons ago we got 150 IP, 1.39 WHIP, and a 4.,02 ERA out of mr Vargas and they decided not to tender him so...

[wopphil]

Another to consider: if Kendrick repeats in 2015 what he did in 2014, does he get a QO? If so, does that influence the decision to trade him?

[mtangelsfan]

Hence my words "like a." I am not actually advocating trading Kendrick for Vargas, though I would probably make that trade.

 

To me that would be horrible.  They better get a young arm for Howie, not an aging vet.

[tdawg87]

I'd do a Kendrick for Alex Wood trade.

 

Unfortunately the Braves wouldn't. But I'd do it.

[WallyWorld]

Exactly what will we be missing when Howie is gone? The 100+ strikeouts for a guy with little power? The mental errors in the field? The no-show in the playoffs? The ABs with absolutely zero game plan or adjustments to what the pitcher is doing? I'd really love to know what this magic is that we don't appreciate now. **** Howie and his overly sensitive little ass. 

[Brent Maguire]

Exactly what will we be missing when Howie is gone? The 100+ strikeouts for a guy with little power? The mental errors in the field? The no-show in the playoffs? The ABs with absolutely zero game plan or adjustments to what the pitcher is doing? I'd really love to know what this magic is that we don't appreciate now. **** Howie and his overly sensitive little ass. 

Kendrick is 6th in WAR among 2nd basemen since 2010. I know you don't like the guy but pretending like he's an awful player is quite funny. 

 

As far as the zero game plan comment, he walked at the highest rate of his career this season. I wouldn't consider that to be "no adjustment". 

[tdawg87]

Exactly what will we be missing when Howie is gone? The 100+ strikeouts for a guy with little power? The mental errors in the field? The no-show in the playoffs? The ABs with absolutely zero game plan or adjustments to what the pitcher is doing? I'd really love to know what this magic is that we don't appreciate now. **** Howie and his overly sensitive little ass. 

 

Despite his flaws and "zero game plan" he has still managed a career .292 AVG and 108 OPS+ over his career. Not to mention he has averaged a 3.8 WAR since 2010 when he finally got healthy and stayed there. He is not a spectacular player but he is a well above average 2nd baseman. He is one of those players that gets overlooked and underappreciated because he was never the "batting champ" he was touted as. He is a good player and there are definitely teams out there who would love to have him.

 

That said, Howie is not irreplaceable, unlike say, Aybar. Green and Beckham can be decent replacements if the pitcher(s) Howie brings in are worth the while. I think they should at least explore the market for him.