I started writing this before Hee Sox Choi's post, but yeah, what he said.
I remember Ian Kennedy not being very good as a Yankee. I have lost track of him since he moved to the NL, so I was interested in what kind of pitcher he is. Ian Kennedy seems like he throws 4 pitches, a 4-seam, a cutter, a change and a curve (BrooksBaseball also lists a sinker, but I think those are really 4-seamers, he has only thrown 49 in his career).
Ian Kennedy has been at times effective and at times not so effective in recent years, but not horrible.
SIERA
2011 - 3.44
2012 - 3.88
2013 - 4.09
2014 - 3.47
(For reference Clay Buchholz was 4.02 last year. John Lackey was 3.50 last year as a Red Sox pitcher.)
What was different and is it repeatable?
Kennedy increased his velocity on his fastball a little over one MPH from 2013. More importantly he threw his changeup about 2.5 mph faster and his cutter about 1.5 mph slower.
Additionally, it seems like he was getting better movement from his curve and his cutter.
Ultimately it was his cutter that was much more effective at missing bats last year.
If I had to guess, I'd say the fastball probably regresses a little and the cutter is slightly less effective this year. Still, it seems likely that he would be the best pitcher on the staff as it is currently constructed. It is good to hear about a real potential return for Cespedes, my paranoia has been trying to talk me into expecting a return of 2 low A RP prospects from Texas.