MLB Washington Nationals

Trading For Howie Kendrick Should Be Washington Nationals’ Top Offseason Priority

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Howie Kendrick

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After leading the NL in wins last season, expectations are high for the Washington Nationals next season. That being said, they have to re-tool their team in a way that keeps them competitive in 2015 and makes sure they stay competitive in the future. There’s one clear way they can do that.

It seems unlikely at this point that the Nationals can re-sign star pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, so they may be better off flipping him for assets they can use in the future. Zimmermann’s contract expires after this upcoming season, and a player they could trade for is Howie Kendrick of the Los Angeles Angels, who is also a free agent after this season. This is because they have a much better chance of signing him to an extension than Zimmermann.

Kendrick would fill a major hole as the Nationals seek middle infielders. At the same time, it will help them shed salary cap and give themselves more time to find options to eventually replace Zimmermann. Since it involves an ace-quality pitcher, the Angels may have to send over more than Kendrick, but really, it would benefit both teams.

The Angels get the ace they so desperately need and the Nationals re-tool to stay competitive for the foreseeable future while adding a proven veteran at a position of need. If general manager Mike Rizzo hopes to keep his team in contention past the next season or two, he will surely pull off a deal of this type.

With Kendrick, the Nationals would have stability up the middle they so desperately need. They also would get rid of payroll they will have to shed at some point anyway. For the immediate and long-term future of the Nationals, trading for Kendrick is the right move.

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