Liam Hendriks is leaving Oakland and will be joining the Chicago White Sox this upcoming season. The 31 year old closer from Australia has reportedly signed a 3 year deal for $45 million dollars. The contract breakdown according to Bob Nightengale, includes a $1 million dollar signing bonus, $11 million due in 2021, $13 million in 2022, $14 million in 2023 and a $15 million club option or $15 million buyout option in 2024 guaranteeing $54 million over 3 or 4 years. This is a fantastic deal for the pitcher as Hendriks will become the 6th highest paid reliever in baseball. The one time all star is coming off a fantastic stretch of two years with phenomenal ERA’s of 1.80 and 1.78 and a combined 39 saves while blowing 8 (with the shortened season). The reliever’s overall numbers in his 10 year career in total with the Twins, Blue Jays, Royals and Athletics aren’t overall inspiring. He has a career 4.10 ERA with a WHIP of a 1.278. However, since he joined the Blue Jays in 2015 he saw a jump in his strikeouts per 9 with a 9.9 increasing to a 13.1 the previous two seasons and a more consistent ERA has he began to establish himself as one of the top tier relievers in the league. MLB Network released a ranking of their top relief pitchers in the league right now and had Hendricks number 1. Among qualified closers in 2020 Hendricks ranked second in saves, first in K/9, second in WHIP, and sixth in ERA.
This is a great move for the White Sox who seem to be the favorites to win the Central this year with the Twins being very quiet this offseason and Cleveland shipping Fransico Lindor. They also have a combined payroll that is lower than Mike Trout’s salary (for another time). The white Sox young exciting core featuring Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson and more can win that division and take over. Hendricks will join relievers , Matt Foster, and Evan Marshall, 2 bullpen arms who all posted ERA’s under 2.50 last year in a bullpen that ranked 6th in the league according to baseball reference. This team is going to be VERY scary to face with one of the more electric lineups and a stacked bullpen featuring Hendricks as their new headline. The AL will be very interesting to watch as there are a lot of up and coming teams with great young cores such as the Sox and the Blue Jays who will be making serious noise to compete for the AL pennant. I love the White Sox this year and do not be surprised to see them making a deep run in the postseason.
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