Atlanta Braves continue to sign veteran pitchers to test them to see if they have anything left in the tank. This time it’s 31-year-old right-handed pitcher Kyle Kendrick.
The Braves and Kendrick agreed to a minor league deal with a Spring Training Invite. He can make $2 million base with incentives that can reach a mark of $6 million.
Kendrick spent 2015 with the Colorado Rockies, but before that he was a long time Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher. He made his debut, with the team that drafted him back in 2003 in the 7th round, during the 2007 season.
He pitched for the Phillies from 2007 to 2014. After the 2014 season, the Phillies granted him free agency. The Rockies scooped him up in February on a one-year contract. On November 2, 2015 the Rockies granted him free agency.
We’ve seen Kendrick many times over the years with being a rival, but now he’s a part of our squad. He’s actually pitched very well at Turner Field, let’s take a look at his stats during his career at our ball park.
| I | Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SO | SO/W | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | GDP | HBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL-Turner Fld | 14 | 258 | 228 | 20 | 52 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 28 | 1.22 | .228 | .310 | .346 | .656 | 8 | 4 |
Kendrick won’t be the guy we call an “ace” or top of the line guy, but he can fill a gap in the bullpen or even as a starter. He has experience in both areas during his nine-year career.
The Braves aren’t making the huge splash everyone wants them to make, but they continue to make these small hits that could work out very well. This is just another example of that.
The past few seasons adding veteran pitchers in the offseason has benefited the Braves greatly. Hopefully this one will pan out for Atlanta. This is a guy that will eat innings, but also give up a few runs. Hopefully they can give him some run support.
If I had to make a decision today on this deal, I’d have to say this is a great addition. He’ll come into Spring Training looking for a spot in either the bullpen or the rotation…and I think he’ll grab one of those spots.