Former Cedar Rapids Kernels second baseman Howie Kendrick re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, returning to the team from which he rejected a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer in November.

Kendrick ended up with a two-year, $20 million contract with the Dodgers after all other teams either weren’t interested or didn’t want to lose a draft pick as compensation for signing him. The Dodgers were the only team that could sign him without giving up a draft pick.

Last year was Kendrick’s first with the Dodgers after spending his first nine major-league seasons with the Angels. He batted .295 with 9 HR and 54 RBI in 117 games.

Kendrick had a standout season for the Kernels in 2014, when he batted .367 with 24 doubles, 10 HR, 49 RBI and 15 SB in 75 games.

Ex-MWLers Butler, Murphy suspended

Two former Midwest League pitchers, RHP Ryan Butler and RHP Sean Murphy, each were suspended 50 games Thursday after testing positive for drugs of abuse a second time.

Butler posted a 0.83 ERA, 10 saves and 30 strikeouts while walking only six batters in 18 relief appearances (21.2 innings) for the 2014 Fort Wayne TinCaps. The San Diego Padres farmhand finished last year in Double-A.

Murphy pitched 93 innings (23 games/14 starts) for the 2011-12 Burlington Bees. He went 4-7 with a 3.97 ERA, 86 strikeouts and 27 walks. The Oakland Athletics farmhand last pitched in 2014, when he reached Triple-A. He spent the entire 2015 season on the disabled list.