Chicago bolsters its weary bullpen by signing former All-Star Liam Hendriks, betting on the veteran’s high-upside resilience to provide crucial depth amidst a flurry of recent pitching acquisitions.
The Chicago Cubs continue to add pitchers to their organization.
Since April 28, the Cubs have claimed both Doug Nikhazy and Luis Peralta off waivers, traded for reliever Tyler Ferguson, and recently signed a former All-Star reliever to a Minor League deal.
Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reported that Chicago has signed two-time American League Reliever of the Year Liam Hendriks to a Minor League deal on Wednesday afternoon.
It has no doubt been a tough few years for the veteran right-hander. He pitched in only five games during the 2023 season as he was recovering from Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and then underwent Tommy John surgery that same year.
After missing the entire 2024 season from that elbow injury, Hendriks signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox ahead of the 2025 campaign. However, his time in Boston was short-lived, as he had a 6.59 ERA across 13 ⅔ innings pitched.
The Red Sox eventually declined his option for the 2026 season, which then led Hendriks to sign a Minor League deal with the Minnesota Twins in the middle of February.
Hendriks signed with the Twins at the start of Spring Training, but was granted his release from the organization when the Twins decided not to include him on their Opening Day roster.
Hendriks was once one of the top relievers in baseball. He was a dominant closer for the Athletics in 2019 and 2020, and then became a fan favorite for the White Sox in his three seasons there. From 2019 to 2022, the Australian native had a combined 2.26 ERA, 359 strikeouts, and 114 saves in 226 appearances.
While Hendriks is clearly past his prime, the 37-year-old is a low-risk signing by the Cubs. He’s someone who has been around the game for a long time and has the potential to step up if called upon.
Most importantly, Hendriks gives the North Siders some much-needed reliever depth. The Cubs are bringing in a fresh arm, which is key given all the injuries they've dealt with so far this season.
It remains to be seen how Hendriks will impact this year’s Cubs team. The front office will likely be keeping a close eye on how the 14-year veteran looks down in the Minors as he ramps up. The three-time All-Star will need a handful of Triple-A appearances before the team even considers calling him up.
Nonetheless, this is a low-risk signing.
The Cubs’ pitching lab has fixed veteran pitchers like Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz in the past, and Hendriks could be the next veteran to benefit from it. If he can stay healthy, this signing could work out.