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Report: Nats, Kendrick agree to 2-year, $7M deal

Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Washington Nationals have decided to bring back Howie Kendrick following his strong stretch run in D.C. last year, agreeing Monday to a two-year, $7-million deal with the veteran utilityman, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The deal is pending a physical.

With incentives based on plate appearances, the 34-year-old's two-year deal can reportedly max out at $9.25 million, per Rosenthal.

Acquired by the Phillies last winter following a rough 2016 campaign in Los Angeles, Kendrick rediscovered his stroke in Philadelphia, hitting .340/.397/.454 in 39 games with the club - albeit while missing time with an abdomen strain - before being shipped to the Nationals ahead of the trade deadline. In Washington, the 34-year-old continued to rake, managing an .837 OPS with seven homers over his final 52 regular-season contests to earn a spot on their 25-man roster for the National League Division Series. Between the two teams, Kendrick managed a career-best .844 OPS in 91 games, hitting .315/.368/.475 (119 OPS+) with 1.6 WAR while spending time in both corner outfield spots as well as second and first base.

Over parts of 12 seasons in the majors, Kendrick, an All-Star in 2011, has hit .291/.334/.412 (107 OPS+), accruing 2.83 WAR in 1,435 games with the Nationals, Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Angels.

Assuming his deal with the Nationals is finalized, Kendrick will likely play all over the diamond once again in 2018, potentially platooning with Adam Eaton in left field and occasionally spelling Daniel Murphy at second base. He'll also be their top right-handed pinch-hitting option off the bench.

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