Dodgers sign second baseman Howie Kendrick to 2-year, $20 million deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed second baseman Howie Kendrick to a two-year deal, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: #Dodgers, Kendrick in agreement on two-year contract, pending physical.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 29, 2016

Kendrick's deal with Los Angeles is worth $20 million for the two years, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports:

Kendrick gets $20M, 2-yr deal #dodgers

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 29, 2016

Kendrick was also with the Dodgers in 2015, hitting .295/.336/.409 with 33 extra-base hits, including nine home runs, in 117 games in his first season after coming across town from the Angels, with whom he played his first nine seasons.

Kendrick posted 1.1 WAR in 2015 according to Baseball-Reference, the lowest total of his career. He had been above 2 WAR in every season since 2008, so the Dodgers will be counting on a bounce back in the next two years.

Prior to adding Kendrick, the Dodgers had fellow veteran Chase Utley along with Enrique Hernandez and Micah Johnson as options at second base, though Kendrick should now see the lion's share of the playing time there in 2016.

In addition to providing stability at second base for the next two seasons, the Dodgers are also likely wanting the 32-year-old Kendrick to mentor his double play partner, rookie shortstop Corey Seager.

Most of the Dodgers' activity this offseason has come on the pitching side of things, but Kendrick's return should help to bolster their offense as Los Angeles looks to contend again in 2016.