Here’s what adding right-hander Liam Hendriks, the American League Reliever of the Year in 2020 and by most accounts the best closer in baseball over the last two seasons, does for the White Sox: It made the Sox arguably the best team in the AL.
And they’re not finished adding to the roster yet, although it’s possible the $54 million deal given to Hendriks might be their most expensive this offseason. In any case, it’s the biggest free agent deal signed in baseball this winter.
And therein lies a basis for calling the Sox No. 1 in the AL. With uncertainty over how many games will be played in 2021 and with baseball coming off a fan-less year in which it says it lost $3 billion because of the coronavirus, it’s been an extremely slow moving free agent market. While the Sox have added Hendriks and the affordable salaries of right-hander Lance Lynn and right fielder Adam Eaton, the AL’s other top teams haven’t done anything to improve themselves.
The financially strapped Indians traded superstar shortstop Franciscor Lindor out of the AL Central. The Athletics, who toppled the Sox in the Wild Card series with Hendriks finishing them off in Game 3, lost Hendriks. The AL champion Rays traded ace lefty Blake Snell and the Yankees might lose MVP finalist DJ LeMehieu in free agency. With less than five weeks before teams are scheduled to report to spring training, the Sox were the talk of the industry and the talk of the town Tuesday.
With Hendriks, a cut above the effective Alex Colome with much more swing-and-miss stuff and ability to pitch multiple innings, joining left-handers Aaron Bummer, possibly 100-mph rookie lefty Garrett Crochet and Jace Fry and righties Evan Marshall, Codi Heuer and Matt Foster in the late innings, the Sox now have baseball’s second-best bullpen behind the Yankees according to FanGraphs.
Hendriks (10th) gives the Sox four pitchers who finished in the top 10 in AL Cy Young voting, joining lefty Dallas Keuchel (fifth) and righties Lynn (sixth) and Lucas Giolito (seventh) who top a starting rotation complemented by young and developing big-stuff righties Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech (if not immediately, after an early season innings buildup stint at Class AAA Charlotte) and perhaps a rotation depth piece to be signed later.
Offensively, the Sox ranked first in the AL in home runs and slugging and were second to the Yankees in runs and OPS despite getting disappointing production from their right fielder and designated hitter, both of whom are gone, and having their top offensive player of 2019, Yoan Moncada, battling through the energy-sapping effects of the coronavirus.
The lineup presents a blend of power and speed with youth and experience. All that’s missing is a defensively adequate catcher to back up Grandal and more certainty at designated hitter.
“They easily go into the year as the favorite in the AL Central,” a division scout said.
The Hendriks signing assures fans of the Sox’ willingness to spend, as they should, as their rebuild enters what can be viewed as nothing less than a World Series contention window. The Sox have been creative and forward thinking managing long-term contracts, and this one, which was pending a physical and is yet to be unannounced, is unusual with $13 million guaranteed over each of the first three season and a Sox option that can be picked up at $15 million for 2024. Or, the Sox can pay a $15 million buyout over a span of 10 years, according to USA Today.
Hendriks has pitched the most innings of any reliever in the last two years (108 1/3), posting a 1.79 ERA and recording 161 strikeouts against only 24 walks during that span.
And he brings 96-mph velocity and an ultimate closer’s mindset to boot.
“I’m an egotistical narcissist on the mound who just believes I am better than everybody,” said Hendriks, an Australian who turns 32 next month, on a recent podcast.
“I want to win a ring. Everything else comes second. And no matter what financial windfall comes my way, my mindset will be ‘I want to make sure that deal looks like a bargain.’ The same mindset I took into 2020. You don’t think I’m worth this? Watch me. You don’t think I can repeat this? Watch me.”
