Royals sign Jason Kendall to two-year deal

Posted on December 12, 2009

Oakland Athletics catcher Jason Kendall makes a play behind the plate during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on October 6, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

Just because the Winter Meetings are over in Indianapolis doesn’t mean the wheeling and dealing stops in baseball. Nope. The Kansas City Royals sprang into action on Friday and signed free-agent catcher Jason Kendall to a two-year deal worth $6 million. The Royals did not offer a contract to last year’s starting catcher Miguel Olivo, and aren’t expected to re-sign backup catcher John Buck.

Kendall has spent time with the Cubs and Brewers recently, but I will always think of him with the Oakland Athletics. Kendall played for the A’s from 2005 through the middle of the 2007 season (when he was traded to the Cubs). During his time in Oakland Kendall did a terrific job of handling a great pitching staff and helped lead his team the the 2006 ALCS against the Tigers.

Photographing catchers is always fun for me. I love getting the chance to concentrate on catchers who work so hard behind the plate and show great emotion in their face when they chase after foul balls or tag out runners at home plate. I could always count on Kendall to help me make a few real nice pictures every season as he was always in the middle of the action.

Kendall was one of the best defensive catchers in baseball when he was here in Oakland. The A’s pitching staff loved throwing to him as he called a great game and was fearless behind the plate. When Kendall was traded away in July of 2007 the A’s staff immediately suffered without Kendall behind the plate.

Kendall broke into the big leagues with the Pirates in 1996 and was a terrific hitter for average during his stay in Pittsburgh. While in Pittsburgh Kendall hit over .300 many times and made three National League All Star teams (1996, 1998, 2000). Kendall’s career was dealt a horrific blow in 1999 when he fractured and dislocated his right ankle in a frightening fall at first base during a game against the Brewers. Many people think his game was never the same after this gruesome injury.

By the time Kendall got to Oakland in 2005 he was strictly a singles hitter who hit 0 home runs in 601 at bats in 2005. Kendall didn’t even have warning track power. He had NO power! However, the A’s did not need Kendall to hit home runs. His job was to take charge of his pitching staff and he was terrific at getting the most out of his guys and calling a great game.

Kendall spent the last two years in Milwaukee (see above) where his average really fell off. He hit .246 in 2008 and .241 in 2009. He hit 2 home runs each season with the Brewers and I am sure the Brewers were ready to go in another direction in 2010. With his new deal in Kansas City Kendall will be able to extend his career another few seasons and add to his amazing career earnings, which are now over $77 million! Wow!

I will add Kendall to the list of new guys in new uniforms that I will need to shoot in spring training in Arizona in a few months. Kendall will be training with the Royals at the beautiful complex in Surprise, AZ. Surprise Stadium is one of my favorite Cactus League parks to shoot in. I hope to see Kendall behind the plate in that great light in March.