Miami may be looking for a starting second baseman this offseason, but if the organization is interested in the Angels infielder, he can block a trade.
Miami signed Rafael Furcal to play second base last offseason, and after Furcal appeared in just nine games in 2014, may be in the market for a second baseman this winter. If the Marlins are looking for a second baseman to trade for, Howie Kendrick may interest them. But according to MLB Trade Rumors, Kendrick can block a trade to the Marlins.
The 31-year-old second baseman has been mentioned as a trade candidate as he enters the final year of the extension he signed before the 2012 season. Kendrick is owed $9.5MM this year before hitting the open market.
Kendrick could hold appeal to several teams given his reasonable price tag and lack of a long-term commitment. Of course, the Jays, Mets, and Marlins are all clubs that seem poised (on paper, at least) to pursue additions up the middle, so his no-trade choices could well have an impact on his market.
Considering he is a 31-year old veteran option, the teams involved in his no-trade clause are not that notable. Kendrick has likely adopted a "win now" mentality, and heading to New York, Toronto, or Miami may not be in his best interest.
The Angels infielder posted a .293/.347/.397 batting line to complement seven home runs and 75 RBIs. He has an OPS+ of 116 since 2011, and might be affordable if the Angels pay a fraction of his remaining contract.
In Furcal's absence, the Marlins used Donovan Solano, Ed Lucas, and on occasion Jordany Valdespin at second base. Solano at times produced enough to prove he belongs on the Marlins' roster moving forward, and with Derek Dietrich looming in the minor leagues, Miami may not find itself in a position to add a second baseman.
Kendrick has been solid defensively, too, and the Angels will likely be inclined to trade him in order to free up space on the payroll.
With solid defensive marks, Kendrick has been a consistently above-average player on the whole. And a jump in defensive metrics last year thrust him into the four-to-five WAR range. That is an appealing total package, particularly when his good record of durability and limited commitment are factored in.
Kendrick likely isn't the lone player on a major league roster to have the Marlins on a list of teams they can block trades to, and Miami may not find itself in a position to pursue Kendrick. But if the Marlins are interested in adding a second baseman, they may have to look elsewhere.