Fansided

Top 25 MLB free agents for 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 09: Howie Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals hits a grand slam in the top of the tenth inning to take a 7-3 lead during Game 5 of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 09: Howie Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals hits a grand slam in the top of the tenth inning to take a 7-3 lead during Game 5 of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

22. Howie Kendrick

Although he turned 36 in July, there’s no reason to believe Washington Nationals utilityman Howie Kendrick can’t continue producing close to his 40th birthday. The only thing that could hold Kendrick back is health. He looks capable of falling out of bed and hitting .300 for another five seasons. Kendrick is the definition of a “professional hitter.”

Kendrick is coming off the best year of his career as his two-year, $7-million deal with the Nationals wraps up. He hit .344/.395/.572 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 121 games. His homer and RBI totals were each one short of his career highs from 2011 but came in 19 fewer games. For his career, Kendrick is a .294/.337/.441 hitter with over 1,700 hits. Were it not for injuries, he would have been looking at an outside shot to join the 3,000-hit club.

Serving mostly as the primary first baseman during the Nationals playoff run, Kendrick has delivered multiple huge hits, none bigger than his game-winning grand slam in Game 5 of the NLDS. He also keyed the Nats’ Game 3 win in the NLCS with three doubles and three RBI. No matter the situation, Kendrick can be counted on to deliver a quality at-bat and hit the ball hard somewhere.

Age and health will be all that holds Kendrick back as a free agent, but he will definitely surpass his expiring contract. How he figures into Washington’s plans past this season remains to be seen. Regardless, Kendrick will have no problem landing with a contender and continuing to reel off casual .300 seasons until he retires.

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