CLEARWATER, Fla.Kyle Kendrick got the multiyear contract he wanted. He just took a roundabout way to it.
The Phillies opened spring training Sunday by announcing that they had signed the 27-year-old righthander to a two-year contract worth 7.5 million. The new deal is for 2012 and 2013 and replaces the 2012 agreement the team and Kendrick had reached last month. That deal was worth 3.585 million. Kendricks new contract, according to sources, will pay him 3 million this season and 4.5 million in 2013.
Though Kendrick comes into this camp lined up as a reliever, the team clearly believes he is still capable of being a starter. He reached the 30-start plateau in 2008 and 2010 and made 15 starts shuttling between the bullpen and rotation last season. Kendricks new contract includes the opportunity to make up to 500,000 per season in incentives based on starts. He will make 100,000 if he reaches 15 starts, another 100,000 if he reaches 20 starts, 150,000 if he reaches 25 starts, and another 150,000 if he reaches 30.
Kyle has played some pretty important roles for us, particularly as a starter, but hes also adapted pretty well to being in the bullpen, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. Hes willing to do anything you ask him. Hes done that the last few years. Im glad for him. He deserves this. And we like the fact we get a little cost certainty out of this.
With Vance Worley and Joe Blanton penciled into the fourth and fifth jobs behind Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in the starting rotation, Kendrick figures to be the teams multi-inning reliever. Pitching coach Rich Dubee, who has been pleased with Kendricks development since adding a changeup and cutter to complement his sinking fastball, said he might also take a peek at Kendrick in seventh- or eighth-inning setup roles. But the possibility of Kendrick getting starters work also exists. He and veteran Joel Pineiro come into camp as the teams sixth and seventh starters, in some order, and that depth could be valuable as Worley looks to build on a strong rookie season and Blanton tries to prove hes healthy after missing most of last season with an elbow injury.
We do have some insurance as far as our starters are concerned, Amaro said.
Blanton has been mentioned as a trade possibility, another factor that makes rotation depth attractive. Of course, Kendricks new deal could also make him easier to deal as teams know exactly what hes going to cost in 2013, regardless of his performance in 2012.
MLB
Even after the two sides agreed on a one-year deal last month, the Phillies and Kendricks representatives never stopped talking about a multiyear deal.
All along I wanted to get two years done, Kendrick said. My agent and the team did, too. Im just happy it worked out. Its pretty exciting.
Kendrick is 43-30 with a 4.41 ERA over five big-league seasons. He was 8-6 with a 3.22 ERA last year, including 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts.
Kendrick came to the majors as a starter and hopes to work in the role full-time again one day.
I love to start and I think Im a pretty good starter, he said. But here we have five good starters and so you kind of wait your turn and see what happens. But Im prepared to do whatever Im asked to do.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.