The Washington Nationals acquired veteran left fielder Howie Kendrick and cash from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitching prospect McKenzie Mills, the team announced late Friday.
The Nationals also send international amateur signing bonus pool space to the Phillies in the deal.
Kendrick, 34, is hitting .340/.397/.454 this season, though he has only appeared in 39 games. Kendrick has spent time on the disabled list with a hamstring injury and an abdominal strain.
Kendrick, though, is healthy now and he gives the banged-up Nationals another outfielder. Kendrick has spent 14 seasons in the major leagues, most of them in Los Angeles. The 34-year-old spent the first nine years of his career with the Angels, being named an All-Star in 2011, and then spent the last two seasons with the Dodgers.
Kendrick can also play second base and third base.
The Nationals have dealt with a number of outfield injuries this season with Adam Eaton, Jayson Werth, Ryan Raburn, Michael A. Taylor and Chris Heisey on the DL. Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Friday that Werth, Raburn and Heisey would start rehabbing soon in West Palm, Florida after Washington faces the Miami Marlins for a three-game series next week.
Kendrick was traded to the Phillies in the offseason and his 2017 salary is $10 million. He has $4.2 million left remaining, but the Washington Post reported that the Phillies will pay most of Kendrick’s remaining salary. The Nationals will pay Kendrick the league-minimum.
Mills was ranked as the 18th best prospect in the Nationals farm system, according to MLB.com. He has spent most of the season with the Class-A Hagerstown Suns.
The Phillies weren’t done trading on Friday night, reportedly sending veteran pitcher Jeremy Hellickson to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitcher Garrett Cleavinger, outfielder Hyun Soo Kim and international amateur signing bonus pool allocation money.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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