Los Angeles Angels Trade Howie Kendrick To Dodgers

Sep 24, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick (47) hits an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Howie Kendrick is now a Dodger. The Angels traded him for young lefty starting pitcher Andrew Heaney, who was acquired by the Dodgers from the Marlins earlier today in the Dee Gordon trade.

The rumors have centered around Kendrick this offseason, and GM Jerry Dipoto tried to deny these reports. However, Kendrick had one of his best seasons in 2014, as the 31-year-old hit .293/.347/.397, thus raising his value to possibly it’s highest level. An opportunity to acquire a top pitching prospect from the Dodgers came up, and Jerry took it. Now the Angels have one of the game’s top prospects in Heaney.

Heaney has a 2.77 ERA, 9.1 K/9, and 3.85 K/BB rate in 259 2/3 minor league innings. He also logged 29 1/3 innings for Miami in his debut season in the Big Leagues. Heaney is 23 years old and controllable through the 2020 season.

Dipoto also discussed a trade with the club from up the freeway L.A. in the summer of 2013. Aside from acquiring a top pitching prospect, clearing up payroll space was the primary motive for those discussions, and the same applied to this trade. The Dodgers will pay all of the $9.5MM Kendrick is owed in 2015.

The Angels’ starting pitching depth chart is now as follows: Jered Weaver, Garrett Richards (out until May), C.J. Wilson, Matt Shoemaker, Nick Tropeano, Hector Santiago, Cory Rasmus, Drew Rucinski and Tyler Skaggs (Tommy John surgery, out until 2017).

There’s a possibility the Angels could go after a top starting pitcher after this move. But they could also go for quantity and continue loading up depth.

Angels Follow Up With Two More Moves

The Angels have also acquired infielder Josh Rutledge from the Rockies in exchange for right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz. Rutledge will compete Grant Green for the starting second base position now that Kendrick has been dealt up the freeway. Whoever loses that battle will be the utility infielder.

Shortly after that, the Angels kept the train rolling by signing left-hander Scott Snodgress to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.  Snodgress, 25, was non-tendered by the White Sox last week. He made his Major League debut in 2014, pitching 2 1/3 innings over four games.

Bloop Hits

• Angels GM Jerry Dipoto shot down speculation that the Marlins could flip Dan Haren. The Halos would not have had to pay Haren anything, as the Dodgers assumed his full one-year $10 million dollar contract.
• Colorado targeted right-handers Vinnie Pestano and Fernando Salas before going with Diaz for Rutledge.
• The Angels were also targeting the Twins‘ Eduardo Escobar and Red Sox infielder Brock Holt.
• The club claimed outfielder/first baseman Marc Krauss off waivers from the Astros on Monday.
• 20-year-old Cuban infielder Roberto Baldoquin arrived in the United States and agreed with the Angels on a record-setting $8MM bonus. The agreement is pending a physical, and is the most ever for an amateur player under the current international signing rules. The team hopes to have Baldoquin’s physical completed and the signing finalized by next week.
• The Angels also acquired catcher Drew Butera from the Dodgers.
• After non-tendering Gordon Beckham, the Angels were on the lookout for a backup infielder.
• It was reported that the Angels have C.J. Wilson on the trade block, but GM Jerry Dipoto denied it. Dipoto said that he has not made any calls or received any.
• It was announced today that ace starter Richards will start the 2015 season on the disabled list, and would be back within the first six weeks.
• Unlike earlier reports, the Angels are making some slightly bigger moves during the Winter Meetings.