It is now February 2, and one Phillies free agent pitcher has yet to find a home. Kyle Kendrick, with the Phillies from 2007 through 2014, is facing his first free agency, but is not drawing too much interest from other clubs.
10 days ago, Kendrick was listed among the top 10 free agents in a column from ESPN's Jim Bowden, and then seemed like a fit for the Colorado Rockies:
" … given how badly the Rockies need starting pitching, they're probably the one team that would outbid the rest for Kendrick. At this point in his career, Kendrick should take the most money and most years, and I say Colorado is the most likely team to give him that. "
The Colorado Rockies, however, have seem to have gone in another direction by acquiring David Hale from the Atlanta Braves. Bowden also named the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates as possible landing spots for Kendrick but neither seems promising.
But Padres general manager A.J. Preller is still in touch with the Phillies about Cole Hamels, so he is seemingly aiming higher than Kendrick-types., especially with a rotation that includes Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner, Ian Kennedy, Jesse Han, Brandon Morrow, Robbie Erlin, Odrisamer Despaigne, and an outside chance Josh Johnson can help.
The Pirates already have A.J. Burnett, Gerrit Cole, Jeff Locke, Francisco Lirano, and Charlie Morton, with Vance Worley as a backup option. If the Pirates were to add Kendrick, it would be as along man in the bullpen who could spot start. But spot starters do not earn the type of money Kendrick made with the Phillies.
Kendrick made almost $8 million last season. Kendrick did give the Phillies a full year's worth of starts, but was pretty much mediocre. Kendrick went 10-13 with a 4.61 ERA and a WHIP of 1.36. Kendrick's value usually is in his durability.
Kendrick had one lone disabled list stint in his whole career, and it was not until the last week of the season in 2013. He would not have even been placed on the disabled list, except Antonio Bastardo was finishing his 50-game suspension and needed a roster spot. Kendrick still made 30 starts in 2013 and another 32 in 2014.
Money may be what is keeping Kendrick unsigned. While Kendrick was never an above-average player for long, his value came in his versatility from being in the bullpen to starting when the need would arise. Kendrick's agents may see his $8 million salary and expect that he gets something close to it in 2015. It just will not happen.
Kendrick might have waited to long to get even an Aaron Harang-type ($5 million) one-year contract. The 2015 free agency period saw a lot of minor league deals for starting pitchers. Scott Baker and Paul Maholm are comparable enough starting pitchers. Both had to settle for minor league contracts. Kendrick might have to settle for one as well.
The Phillies already gave away number 38 to Chad Billingsley. It will not be them.
