Ian Kennedy Open To Contract Extension

The Diamondbacks announced yesterday starting pitcher Ian Kennedy will be their opening day starter for 2012, and the righty wouldn't mind that role for future years either. Ian Kennedy tells Steve Gilbert of MLB.com he's open to talking multi-year contracts with the club: "Obviously I would entertain hearing it," he said. "I think anybody would."

The Scott Boras client is arbitration eligible for the first time next offseason and isn't slated to hit arbitration until after 2015. Kennedy had a breakout year last season in his second year with the D'Backs after being traded by the Yankees to Arizona. Kennedy, 27, posted a 2.88 ERA across 222 innings of work along with a 8.0 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 (all four are career bests). According to WAR, Kennedy was worth five wins above replacement level last year.

• Kennedy open to multiyear contract talks | dbacks.com: News: "Ian Kennedy will be eligible for salary arbitration following this season and the right-hander said he would certainly listen if the D-backs wanted to talk to him about a multiyear contract."