Padres Ian Kennedy

We begin a series of taking a look back at how players from the 2014 Padres did and take a look a head to next year. We begin with a pitcher, who may very well be the ace of a pretty darn good pitching staff in Ian Kennedy.

2014 Stats

Kennedy rebounded from an uneven 2013 to do better than his final record showed in 2014:

13-13 3.63 ERA 201 innings 207 strikeouts 1.28 WHIP

Kennedy had a sub .500 record in the first half, including going 1-3 with a 5.46 ERA in five June starts, but he rebounded in July going 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA.

Kennedy was a bit all or nothing in 2014. In his losses, he had an ERA over 5. On a team that didn’t score a lot of runs, he has to improve on keeping the team in the game, even if he doesn’t have his best stuff on that given night.

2015 Outlook:

Kennedy is entering his last year of arbitration. His agent is Scott Boras, so locking him up to a long term deal is more than likely out of the question. If the Padres are out of it come July 31 next year, Kennedy will be a hot name on the trade market for contenders.

He could even be a hot name this off-season. With a new GM, and even with an expanded payroll, the possibility of him not coming back after the season, could the Pads look to trade Kennedy for young offensive help? Only time will tell.