It appears Liam Hendriks’ debut with the Purple Sox will wait till 2025. Supervisor Alex Cora mentioned earlier than tonight’s extra-inning loss within the Bronx that the Sox are “most likely … going to close him down” from throwing (hyperlink by way of Chris Cotillo of MassLive). Boston pulled the veteran reliever off his minor league rehab project final week when Hendriks reported arm discomfort.
The three-time All-Star has been working again from an August 2023 Tommy John surgical procedure that ended his time with the White Sox. Cora indicated that Hendriks’ latest discomfort is on the skin of his forearm fairly than within the elbow. An MRI didn’t reveal any structural harm and the staff believes the problem is regular soreness associated to his build-up after a protracted layoff.
Whereas there doesn’t appear to be any long-term concern, the calendar doesn’t supply Hendriks time for even a minor setback. There are 17 days left within the common season. Boston’s loss tonight dropped them 4.5 video games again of the American League’s final Wild Card spot. It’s most likely too dangerous to ask Hendriks to push via minor forearm discomfort to help a protracted shot playoff chase.
Hendriks signed a two-year, $10MM free agent deal early in Spring Coaching. It’s a backloaded contract that follows the everyday construction for a pitcher rehabbing a serious arm surgical procedure. Hendriks made $2MM this season and is ready for a $6MM base wage subsequent 12 months. He’s assured a $2MM buyout on a mutual possibility for 2026. The Aussie may unlock as much as $10MM extra by way of incentives subsequent season relying on his innings and video games completed totals.
The latter class would tackle specific significance if Hendriks opens subsequent season as Cora’s nearer. He’d safe $1MM apiece for each fifth sport completed between 45 and 65 contests. Hendriks led the American League with 38 saves for Chicago again in 2021. He saved one other 37 video games the following season. Hendriks would’ve crammed a center reduction or setup position had he gotten again on the mound this 12 months. The ninth inning could possibly be there for the taking subsequent spring.
Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin are concluding two-year offers signed when Chaim Bloom was chief baseball officer. Each pitchers have been efficient, however the Sox may allow them to every stroll in free company. Boston reportedly tried to discover a commerce associate for Jansen each earlier than Opening Day and at instances within the season’s first half. It seems to be unlikely they’ll re-sign him. Martin appears to have a greater probability of returning, however he has rather a lot much less closing expertise than Hendriks brings. Deadline acquisitions Lucas Sims and Luis García are additionally headed to the market.
First-year chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, a former reliever, has hit on a pair unheralded bullpen pickups. Rule 5 choose Justin Slaten has had a wonderful rookie season and must be ticketed for high-leverage work. Greg Weissert, acquired within the Alex Verdugo deal, has been stable. There’ll absolutely be just a few acquisitions within the offseason. Boston isn’t going to let every of Jansen, Martin, Sims and García stroll with out bringing in some sort of veteran assist. The following few months ought to make clear whether or not Hendriks will go into 2025 as Boston’s nearer.
In any case, he’ll actually be within the late-inning combine if he stays wholesome. Hendriks getting again to peak type can be a unbelievable story not just for Boston however for baseball as an entire. Final 12 months’s surgical procedure interrupted a triumphant return to the mound after Hendriks beat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The ’25 season could possibly be his alternative to reemerge as one of many sport’s finest relievers.
