Dodgers trade Howie Kendrick to Phillies for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers found a landing spot for Howie Kendrick, trading the veteran to the Phillies on Friday for first baseman and outfielder Darin Ruf and old friend Darnell Sweeney.

Talk of a Kendrick trade surfaced earlier in the week, with Kendrick unhappy with his reduced playing time and utility role.

There is no cash in the deal, so Kendrick’s one year and $10 million will be paid by Philadelphia, with $5 million paid in 2017 and $5 million deferred to Dec. 15, 2019.

Ruf, now 30, hit .205/.236/.337 in 83 plate appearances with the Phillies in 2016, but in his five major league seasons has hit .299/.379/.542 with 17 home runs in 318 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.

The Dodgers were last in the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, wOBA and wRC+ against left-handed pitchers in 2016.

Ruf hit .294/.356/.529 with 20 home runs in 95 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2016.

With two years, 138 days of service time, Ruf is eligible for salary arbitration in 2017, and potentially for four years. He is out of options, having used them in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

Sweeney was drafted by the Dodgers in 2012, and traded to the Phillies for Chase Utley in August 2015. The switch hitter hit .233/.299/.345 in 118 games in Triple-A last season, and did not see major league time. He played 54 games at second base, 40 at third base, 20 games in center field, and once at shortstop.

The Phillies sent Sweeney outright to the minors in September, so he’s not on the 40-man roster.

The Dodgers’ 40-man roster remains at 37 players.