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Top Howie Kendrick News
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Howie Kendrick: Announces retirement
Kendrick announced his retirement from baseball on his personal Instagram page Monday.
The 37-year-old had previously hinted at playing one more season, as the pandemic-filled 2020 campaign was an odd note to end on, but he evidently elected to go through with his original plan to call it quits. He'll end his 15-year career with 1,747 hits, 127 homers and 126 steals, hitting .294/.337/.430 overall. While his only All-Star appearance came back in 2011 with the Angels, his late-career renaissance helped the Nationals to their first-ever title in 2019, a year in which he hit .344/.395/.572, good for career bests in all three categories. He was a major part of that title run, winning NLCS MVP and hitting the go-ahead homer in Game 7 of the World Series.
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Howie Kendrick: Wants to play in 2020
Kendrick (hamstring) plans to continue his playing career in 2021, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.
According to Ghiroli, Kendrick initially intended for 2020 to be his final season, but he's chosen to play "at least" one more year after the pandemic-shortened campaign didn't afford him a proper sendoff. After thriving in a part-time role with the Nationals in the team's run to its first World Series title in 2019, Kendrick saw his OPS fall 262 points while he struggled with injuries in 2020. Now that the 37-year-old has seemingly made a full recovery from the left hamstring strain that he suffered in early September, he'll look to find work with a team as a bench bat or as part of a platoon at designated hitter.
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Howie Kendrick: Becomes free agent
The Nationals declined Kendrick's (hamstring) $6.5 million team option for 2021 on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Kendrick and the Nationals came to terms last winter on a one-year contract that included a mutual option for 2021, but Washington elected not to renew their side of the deal. The 37-year-old will pocket $2.25 million in a buyout, and he could end up re-signing with Washington this winter if the team views him an ideal right-handed option off the bench. He appeared in only 25 games during the abbreviated 2020 campaign due to back and hamstring injuries, slashing .275/.320/.385 over 100 plate appearances.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Not returning this season
Kendrick (hamstring) shut down his rehab work and won't return this season, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The veteran slugger apparently decided to shut things down once he was informed he would have a chance of injuring himself further if he pushed himself too hard, and he didn't want to rejoin the team while being significantly limited. According to Dougherty, Kendrick has yet to decide if he's going to continue his career in 2021, and the progression in his recovery this offseason figures to play a role in his eventual decision. He has a $6.5 million mutual option with the Nationals that includes a $2.25 million buyout for next season.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Could return before end of season
Kendrick (hamstring) joined the Nationals' taxi squad during the team's recently completed road trip and continues to make progress in his rehab, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. "We're going to be careful with him," Martinez said of Kendrick. "He's had these hamstring issues before. We've talked about this: We don't want him to blow out now. But we told him as soon as [he's] ready and we deem that [he] can play, we'll activate him and see if we can get him back this week."
The 20-32 Nationals are officially eliminated from playoff contention, but that apparently won't stop Kendrick from staging a comeback attempt during the final week of the regular season. Martinez estimated that Kendrick was running at about 60 percent speed in his most recent workout, so the 37-year-old looks like he still has a few hurdles to clear before the Nationals give him the green light to resume playing. If Kendrick does make it back from the 10-day injured list, he could be limited to making starts at designated hitter or serving as a pinch hitter off the bench.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Sidelined with hamstring strain
The Nationals placed Kendrick on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The injury prevented Kendrick from playing in either of the Nationals' two games against the Rays earlier this week, so the IL move is retroactive to Sept. 6. Considering that Kendrick has been bothered off and on by hamstring issues all summer along with the fact that the 16-25 Nationals are fading fast from the National League playoff picture, the club could be inclined to shut the veteran down for more than the minimum 10 days, if not the rest of the season. Eric Thames and Asdrubal Cabrera will likely handle most of the starts at first base and designated hitter while Kendrick is on the mend.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: On bench Tuesday
Kendrick will sit Tuesday against Tampa Bay.
Kendrick has now been on the bench for three straight games and against five straight righties. He's hitting a modest .275/.320/.385 on the season. Juan Soto returns from an elbow issue to start as the designated hitter in his absence.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Not in Monday's lineup
Kendrick isn't in Monday's lineup against the Rays.
Kendrick will take a seat for Monday's series opener with right-hander Charlie Morton on the mound for the Rays. Josh Harrison will take over as the designated hitter.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Out against righty
Kendrick is not in Thursday's lineup against the Phillies.
While Kendrick has started three straight games against righties, he has a .691 OPS against same-handed pitchers this year, and the Nationals seem to be switching some things up with the lineup. Adam Eaton moved to the leadoff spot while Brock Holt gets his second straight start at third base, shifting Asdrubal Cabrera to first base and Eric Thames to designated hitter against righty Zach Eflin.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Day off Sunday
Kendrick is not in the lineup Sunday against the Red Sox.
Kendrick started the past three games and went 5-for-12 with a homer, a double and three RBI, but he'll take a seat for Sunday's contest. Eric Thames starts at first base while Asdrubal Cabrera serves as the designated hitter.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Pops second homer
Kendrick went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 10-2 win over the Red Sox.
Getting the start at first base with lefty Martin Perez on the mound for Boston, the veteran hitter went back-to-back with Juan Soto in the third inning. Kendrick has had trouble staying healthy in 2020, but when he's been in the lineup in August he's been locked in at the plate, slashing .373/.393/.529 with both his homers on the year, nine runs and 10 RBI in 14 games this month.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Out of Tuesday's lineup
Kendrick is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies.
While Kendrick sometimes sits against righties, he had started the last two games against same-handed pitchers, but he will take a seat against Jake Arrieta in this one. Eric Thames will start at designated hitter while Asdrubal Cabrera gets the start at first base.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Not starting Game 2
Kendrick is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Miami.
The 37-year-old missed the past week with a hamstring issue before returning to action for the matinee, so it's not much of a surprise he won't be playing both games. Kendrick went 0-for-1 with one run, one RBI and one walk during the contest. Eric Thames will start at first base while Asdrubal Cabrera serves as the designated hitter in the nightcap.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Returns to lineup
Kendrick (hamstring) is starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins.
Kendrick missed fairly significant time with a hamstring issue, but he avoided the injured list and will return to action as the designated hitter for the team's first seven-inning contest Saturday. The 37-year-old is hitting .300 with six RBI this season.
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Nationals' Howie Kendrick: Out again Friday
Kendrick (hamstring) is not in the lineup Friday against the Marlins.
The veteran infielder hasn't seen game action since Aug. 14, and he won't return to the starting nine for Friday's series opener. A trip to the injured list seems likely if Kendrick misses much more time, but for now he'll remain day-to-day. Eric Thames will serve as the designated hitter while Asdrubal Cabrera starts at first base.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-11, 220 lbs |
| Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL |
| Age: 41 |
| Experience: 6 |
| Bats/Throws: R, R |