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Second baseman Adam Kennedy, who has been mentioned in offseason trade rumors, agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Anaheim Angels, avoiding arbitration.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Kennedy collected $2.27 million with Anaheim last season.
Kennedy, 27, was
the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player en route to the
Angels' first-ever World Series crown in 2002, but he hit only .269 last season
and has been the source of trade discussion.
With Boston and Texas trying to work out a deal that would send superstar Alex
Rodriguez to the Red Sox, there would be no room for Nomar Garciaparra in Beantown.
Anaheim has been mentioned as a possible destination.
It seems unlikely Kennedy would be involved in any deal, especially after he agreed to terms on a multi-year contract.
Kennedy, a native of Riverside, California, hit .340 (16-for-47) with four home runs and 10 RBI in 15 games during the 2002 postseason. He belted three homers in a decisive Game Five of the ALCS against Minnesota.
Acquired prior to the 2000 season in a deal that sent Jim Edmonds to St. Louis, Kennedy is a lifetime .277 hitter with 36 homers, 229 RBI and 73 stolen bases in 613 major league games - all but 33 with the Angels.
Kennedy's best season came in 2002, when he hit .312 with seven homers, 32 doubles, six triples, 52 RBI and 17 steals in 144 games. His average and RBI total were career highs.