The Dodgers have announced that the rumored signing of infielder Howie Kendrick is now official.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the deal is a two-year/$20 million contract that is differed, with the 32-year-old Jacksonville, Florida native receiving $5 million per year over the next four years.

In his first year with the Dodgers in 2015, Kendrick batted .295 with 22 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 54 RBI in 117 games during the regular season. He started in all five NLDS games against the Mets, hitting .273 with a double, a home run and four RBI. He ranked fifth in the National League with a .360 batting average with runners in scoring position (36-for-100) and also posted a .335 (64-for-191) mark with runners on base. In 59 home games last season, he hit .312 (72-for-231) with 13 doubles, six home runs and 29 RBI and has a .316 career batting average (97-for-307) in 79 games at Dodger Stadium, the fourth-highest mark among active players (min. 100 AB).

Kendrick had a knack for coming up with clutch hits for the Dodgers in 2015.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Kendrick has a .293 career batting average with 271 doubles, 87 home runs and 555 RBI in 1,198 games in 10 MLB seasons with the Angels (2006-14) and Dodgers (2015). The 2011 All-Star has a .986 career fielding percentage, appearing primarily at second base, and has hit well in the clutch during the course of his career, posting a .298 batting average with runners in scoring position and a .299 mark with runners on base.

The Florida native was originally selected by the Angels in the 10th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Johns River Community College (FL), prior to being acquired by the Dodgers on December 10, 2014 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney.

(Article courtesy of Dodgers PR Department)