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Oh, I completely concede that Kennedy "could" have a career year at age 35.  It happens.
But, I would "expect" an 85 (ish) OPS+ from any 35-year-old with a career 88 OPS+.  (I'd "expect" an 80-ish OPS+ from Jack, btw).
But, Kennedy is viewed as help at 2B (primarily), with the R&R duo manning short.  Ryan is the only guy signed for 2012.  So, whether starting or backing up, Ryan sticks around. 
I think a lot more of the decision making going on today is about "who will be paired with Dustin?" than about just the day-to-day games of 2011.  Kennedy will NOT be playing short in 2012.  Wilson will not be playing short in 2012.  That leaves R&R.  I think Ryan and Rodriguez are currently auditioning for the supporting role in "The Ack-Man Cometh" play set to open later this year. 
The "book" says Ryan is better glove - LROD is better bat.  What the club has to do in the next month or two is determine the "relative" differences in those two variable and compute which guy produces more wins.  Of course, since SS is one of the Big3 up-the-middle defense positions, defense will (and should) carry more weight than say ... left field.  But, if LROD can prove he's "adequate" at short - (league average) - with a plus bat ... then Ryan will need to prove he's EXCEPTIONAL defensively - with a minus bat. 
I think Ryan has two shots at losing his slot --- if his bat lingers below .500 OPS for long ... OR, if his defense isn't hands-down NUMERICALLY better than LROD.  Personally, I think he's losing on both fronts at the moment ... and the 2-year contract is the only thing keeping his clock ticking.