Nationals Get: Howie Kendrick (2 HR, 16 RBI, .340 AVG, 8 SB, 126 wRC+, Age 34)
Phillies Get: McKenzie Mills (12-2, 3.01 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 118/22 K/BB at Class A, Age 21)
International Bonus Money
Nationals outfielders currently on the disabled list: Adam Eaton, Jayson Werth, Michael Taylor, Ryan Raburn, Chris Heisey, and if you count him as both a shortstop and an outfielder, Trea Turner. Suddenly, it makes a ton of sense that the Nationals are adding an outfield bat in Howie Kendrick. After a down year with the Dodgers in 2016 (.255/.326/.366, 8 HR, 79 wRC+), Kendrick is having a bounce back season by slashing .340/.397/.454 with a pair of home runs and a 126 wRC+ in 39 games. It's a small sample size that includes an inflated .418 BABIP (career mark of .339), so obviously he won't hit .340 over extended time, but he'll bring added depth in a place the Nationals really need it. Rookie Andrew Stevenson can get more time to develop in AAA, and Adam Lind can slide back into the bench/first base role that he fills better than the left field role, where he is a defensive liability. The 12 year veteran is set to hit free agency after the season, but the Nationals only really need him as a rental anyways, where he can add insurance as the Nationals look to avoid speed bumps on their way to the NL East title while looking towards more. For his career, Kendrick has 97 home runs, a .290 batting average, and 119 stolen bases over 1383 games, accumulating 27.9 fWAR.
The Nationals drafted McKenzie Mills in the 18th round in 2014 as a high risk, high reward, high school arm, and so far, he's on track to fulfill that reward. They brought him along slowly, as he tossed just 57.2 mediocre innings between 2014 and 2015, and he performed adequately in 2016, going 4-5 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over 12 starts for Class A Short Season Auburn, striking out 46 and walking 28 in 53.1 innings. They turned him loose in full season ball in 2017, and the results have been excellent. Over 18 starts, he has gone 12-2 with a 3.01 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP, striking out 118 and walking just 22 in 104.2 innings at Class A Hagerstown, earning a promotion to High Class A Potomac just one day before he was shipped to Philadelphia. The 21 year old lefty stands 6'4" and throws in the low 90's with a solid curveball and changeup that has has shown better feel for in 2017. Mills still carries considerable risk as a prospect, but he's trending in the right direction and is a good return for a rental like Kendrick.
No comments:
Post a Comment