Dodgers acquire Howie Kendrick in trade with Angels

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels. In return, the Angels received pitching prospect Andrew Heaney, who the Dodgers had just acquired from the Marlins as part of a package that netted Dee Gordon and Dan Haren.

Kendrick will easily slot into the Dodgers' infield at second base after the position was vacated by Gordon's departure. The one-time All-Star has a career batting line of .292/.332/.424. At age 31, he is only under contract through 2015.

The market for Kendrick could be relevant to the Mets due to past contemplation of trading Daniel Murphy, a player with a very similar career to Kendrick's. Murphy's career line of .290/.333/.419 is nearly identical to Kendrick's, and both are primarily second basemen but have spent time at other positions around the infield and the outfield. One advantage for Murphy—and for the Mets, if they choose to trade him—is that he's two years younger than Kendrick.