Player Profiles: 2nd Base - Jeff Kent

Ok, moving on to 2nd base.

Player: Jeff Kent

2008 Stats: .280, 12 homeruns, 59 RBIs

2008 Analysis: Was it just me, or did it seem like Jeff Kent missed more than just 41 games this year? In any case, Kent played well... for a 40-year old 2nd baseman though underperformed by his own standards.

He did have 440 at-bats this year, which isn't a full season, but enough of a sample size. His batting average and OBP was the lowest it's been since 1997 (his slugging was its lowest since 1996) and despite having only 54 at-bats less than he had in 2007, he had eight less homeruns and 20 less RBIs.

Defensively, Kent, who never was a Gold Glove 2nd Baseman to begin with, was sometimes difficult to watch playing 2nd. He's lost a step or two... his range is obviously much less than it used to be. His fielding percentage was .976 in limited chances. But then again, Kent's defense was never his strong suit.

2009 Outlook: There are a couple possible scenarios for Jeff Kent:

1. Kent decides to retire. If he does, then good for him. He's had a good long career (Career: 377 homeruns, 1518 RBIs, .290 average) and is most likely Hall-of-Fame bound.

2. Kent decides to keep playing. If he still wants to play, the best place for Kent is probably the DH position on an American League team. If he's willing to accept that DH role, he could have another year or two of swinging the bat left in his tank. However...

3. Kent decides to keep playing, but wants to remain a 2nd baseman. Jeff Kent is a man of pride. He might not want to play in the watered down position of a DH. Should he still want to play, and remain a 2nd baseman, he might be able to find a team willing to give him that role. The Dodgers, however, with Blake DeWitt in the wings, might be ready to move on. If that's the case, Kent will have to look elsewhere, possibly out of his comfort zone (his adopted state of Texas or his homestate of California) to find the job, which could be much less appealing.

How do I think this will all go down? Most likely, I feel like Jeff Kent will choose option 1. He's missed time due to injury the last three years, and his stats are falling, if only slightly. It might be time to ride off into the sunset. Kent certainly has some outside interests that would keep him busy. He's made it clear in the past that baseball doesn't mean everything to him. I think he might go choose to enjoy retirement on his ranch and wait a couple years for the Hall-of-Fame to come calling. But then again, Kent has never been an easy guy to read. Who knows? Maybe his desire for a World Series ring will having him coming back for another go at it. Whatever the choice is, I'm sure we haven't heard the last of Jeff Kent.