All-Star closer Liam Hendriks is finally off the free-agent market. According to multiple reports, Hendriks inked a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.
Hendriks hasn’t garnered a lot of interest this winter despite his impressive resume. The reason for this is that he underwent a Tommy John surgery this past summer, which will sideline him at least until the final third of the 2024 MLB campaign. The more realistic timeline for his return is the 2025 season.
It appears that the Red Sox are willing to take a risk more than other teams, hoping that Hendriks will be his old self once he returns from the injury. If that ends up being the case, they will have one of the game’s best closers on a relatively cheap deal.
ESPN’s Buster Onley reports that Hendriks’ contract with Boston includes $10 million in guaranteed money and also comes with various performance-based bonuses.
Liam Hendriks made his MLB debut in 2011 with the Minnesota Twins before embarking on stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, and the Chicago White Sox. He has three All-Star nods and two All-MLB First Team selections to his name while also being named AL Reliever of the Year twice.
Over the course of his 13 years in the majors, Hendriks has a 33-34 record, 3.82 ERA, 727 strikeouts, and 116 saves.
