Washington Nationals Free Agent Profile: Ian Kennedy

Could the Nats look to add another veteran to the rotation by signing free agent right-hander, Ian Kennedy?

While the Washington Nationals rotation seems set for 2016 with Tanner Roark and Joe Ross filling out the final two spots, the Nats have shown they are at least looking into adding another pitcher with their interest in Mike Leake and Scott Kazmir. One name that could be of interest to the Nats is Ian Kennedy.

Kennedy is one of the free agents that have been connected to the Nats, according to Jon Heyman in his Inside Baseball for CBS Sports on Thursday. Last season, with the San Diego Padres, the 31-year-old right-hander went 9-15 in 30 starts with a 4.28 ERA. He has a career ERA of 3.98 in nine seasons with the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Padres.

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The Yankees drafted Kennedy with the 21^st pick in the 2006 MLB Draft. After three seasons with New York, the Bronx Bombers dealt Kennedy to Arizona in the Curtis Granderson/Max Scherzer deal in December 2009. By far, his best season was in 2011 when he led the Natonal League with 21 wins and finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting.

Four years later, Arizona would deal Kennedy to the Padres for relievers Matt Stites and Joe Thatcher. In his three seasons with San Diego, Kennedy is 26-30 with a 3.97 ERA. The Padres offered him a qualifying offer, which means the Nationals would have to give up their second round pick in this year’s draft if they sign him.

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Despite all the losses, Kennedy is starting to strike out more hitters. He has struck out 9.3 batters per nine innings each of the last two seasons (a career-high). After having a 4.91 ERA in the first half of 2015 and allowing his opponents to hit .269, the right-hander rebounded in the second half, as he went 5-6 with a 3.64 ERA in 14 starts and held opponents to a .247 batting average (three of those losses came in September). This past season, Kennedy’s fastball averaged out at 91 miles per hour (according to Fangraphs). He also has a cutter, breaking ball, and changeup in his arsenal.

Kennedy is a Scott Boras client and the Nationals have two Boras clients in their rotation in Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. During their offseason predictions, MLB Trade Rumors predicted Kennedy would get a four-year, $52 million deal. Even though he is 3-1 with a 1.61 ERA in four career starts at Nats Park, the Nationals shouldn’t sign Kennedy, especially since it would cost them another draft pick.

Next: Nats Free Agent Profile: Yoenis Cespedes

One factor that leans me toward that decision would be that he was fourth in the NL in home runs allowed (31) and he allowed 1.7 home runs per nine innings. In addition, 19 of those 31 home runs came at PETCO Park, a pitcher’s park. To me, the Nats would be better off sticking with Roark and Ross than adding Kennedy.

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