According to ESPN’s Buston Olney, the Boston Red Sox and former Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks have reached an agreement on a two-year, $10 million contract.
The two-time AL Reliever of the Year will begin 2024 on the Injured List and isn’t anticipated to return to the mound until late this season, at the earliest, after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2023 and missing the entirety of the previous season.
Hendriks, who was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2022, had an incredibly turbulent 2023 season. After recovering from treatment, he began the season on the IL and made his 2023 debut on May 29. Sadly, he only made five appearances before being sent back to the injured list due to elbow soreness. Upon further examination, it was determined that he had torn his ulnar collateral ligament, necessitating Tommy John surgery.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that Hendriks hopes to be back on the mound “around the trade deadline this season.”
Hendriks won AL Comeback Player of the Year and the Jimmy V Award in 2023 after posting a 5.40 ERA in five games with the White Sox, including two wins and one save. His previous season, he recorded a 2.81 ERA, 4 wins, 37 saves, and 85 strikeouts, which led to his selection for his third All-Star Game.
Inside the Hendriks-Red Sox Agreement
Olney announced on February 19 that Hendriks has consented to a $10 million, two-year contract with the Red Sox, subject to a physical examination. According to an explanation provided by Jon Heyman of the NY Post, the contract has a mutual option for the 2026 season in addition to performance bonuses that could raise the total value to $20 million.
Hendriks, along with reliever Cooper Criswell and starting Lucas Giolito, is only the third free agent signed by Boston so far this winter.
The Closer for the Red Sox
As they meticulously rebuild, the Red Sox may still see roster changes before Opening Day, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic on February 17.
“As spring approaches, it’s still feasible that the Red Sox will make further changes. The market for trade in Jansen is still robust, and free agents are still available.
The organization has been considering trade proposals for Jansen this winter, and since the four-time All-Star will be making $16 million in 2024 and the Red Sox are looking to reduce payroll, it appears that a transfer may soon happen. If Jansen remains the Red Sox’s closer to begin the season, a trade will almost certainly be considered again before the deadline, opening up the position for Hendriks after he returns from his rehab assignments.
Even if a trade doesn’t come together and Jansen is extended after 2024, he and Hendriks would be a very fierce duo at the back of the bullpen. Like Jansen, current setup man Chris Martin is in the final season of his two-year contract, so it’s not out of the question for the bullpen to be retooled around Hendriks and Jansen after this season.
