The Washington Nationals are not letting their attempted trade for Brandon Phillips that fell through keep them from adding a second baseman.
According to Nationals reporter William Ladson, the Nats have had talks with both Howie Kendrick and Daniel Murphy.
Kendrick, 32, was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade last offseason after spending his entire career with the Angels. His contract expired after the season, and it looks like the Dodgers may not be re-signing the free agent. The Mets have been mentioned as a team with potential interest in Kendrick, but others have disputed that talk. There has not been much chatter about his free agency status.
Kendrick provides a reliable bat (he’s a career .293 hitter) with solid power for a second baseman (11 homers per year on average last seven seasons), good speed, and good defense.
Murphy, 30, became a household name among baseball fans after his torrid postseason for the Mets. He crushed seven home runs in 14 playoff games, delivering a 1.115 OPS. Outside of the postseason, he’s an above-average hitter like Kendrick. He has a career .288/.331/.424 slash line but plays weaker defense than Kendrick.
The Nationals plan to move Anthony Rendon back to third base next season, creating an opening at second they would like to fill. If they can lock up either Kendrick or Murphy — provided the price isn’t too steep — it would bolster their already strong lineup.
