*Photo from AP News*
Watch out for the Chicago White Sox in 2021. The White Sox have signed RHP Liam Hendriks to a 3 year deal worth $54 million, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Hendriks will make about $13 million per year in his 3 seasons, along with a $15 million team option for a 4th season that has a $15 million buyout, guaranteeing Hendriks $54 million. The White Sox have confirmed the deal.
Hendriks had a stellar 2020 season in the bullpen for the Oakland Athletics, going 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA, striking out 37 hitters in 25 1/3 innings pitched across 24 relief appearances for Oakland, including the playoffs as well. Hendriks picked up 14 saves in 2020 as well. Hendriks has spent 10 seasons in the major leagues, pitching to a 19-27 record with a 4.10 ERA, throwing 516 1/3 innings across 344 total appearances, 44 of which were starts. Hendriks also has 40 career saves.
White Sox GM Rick Hahn said that "We fully expect Liam to be here for the four years and look forward to exercising that option three years from now, but the structure did provide us with some protection. It helped bridge the gap between their aspirations for four guaranteed years and our desire to keep it at three."
Hendriks earned his massive contract thanks to two elite seasons as the Oakland closer, as he posted a 1.80 ERA with 25 saves in 2019 in addition to his 1.78 ERA with 14 saves this year, with Hendriks making the all star game in 2019. Hendriks was announced as the winner of the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the year award earlier this offseason. His $54 million guaranteed is the most for any free agent so far this winter, passing James McCann's $40 million guaranteed from the Mets.
Hendriks talked about what he wants his role to be, saying that "I want to pitch every day. I want to pitch in 81 games a year. It's part and parcel to one, being healthy and being effective, and two, having the confidence of being on a winning team. And we're able to do that. I'm ready for whatever. Whether it be multiple innings, whether it be solo innings, just a lot of solo innings. Whatever it needs to be, I'm capable of going out there and giving the team whatever they need."
Hendriks was initially signed by the Twins in 2007 out of Australia, and made his major league debut with the Twins in the 2011 season. In his Twins career, he was often used as a starter, where he was usually ineffective. It wasn't until the 2015 season with the Toronto Blue Jays until he became a reliever, which has been a boon for Hendriks. Hendriks has also spent time with the Kansas City Royals before joining the Athletics.
The signing of Hendriks is another move made by the White Sox to try and take the AL Central for themselves this upcoming season, as the White Sox have also signed SP Lance Lynn and OF Adam Eaton. Hendriks joins a bullpen that features Evan Marshall, Aaron Bummer, Matt Foster, Codi Heuer, and possibly rookie flamethrower Garrett Crochet, the White Sox could have themselves a pretty good bullpen for the 2021 season and beyond.
Comments
Post a Comment