The previous few years have been difficult for right-hander Kyle Hendricks however he’s not fascinated with stepping away from the sport. He tells Patrick Mooney of The Athletic that he “100%” plans to proceed his profession subsequent yr. “Completely,” Hendricks stated. “I’ll take a step again (as soon as the season ends to) reevaluate and refocus, however I positively would like to maintain pitching.”
Hendricks is slated to achieve free company for the primary time this winter. He and the Cubs signed a four-year, $55.5MM extension in March of 2019, with that pact additionally containing a 2024 membership/vesting choice. That deal got here amid the strongest stretch of the righty’s profession. From 2014 to 2020, he tossed over a thousand innings with a 3.12 earned run common, 20.8% strikeout charge, 5.3% stroll charge and 47.5% floor ball charge. On high of that, he additionally made a bunch of postseason begins for the Cubs, together with 5 outings with a 1.42 ERA for the curse-breaking 2016 crew.
Issues haven’t been as clean since then, nevertheless. In 2021, his strikeout charge dropped to 16.7% and his ERA climbed to 4.77. In 2022, he made 16 begins with a 4.80 ERA earlier than a capsular tear in his proper shoulder put him on the injured listing. He didn’t require surgical procedure however was out of motion till late Might 2023.
He was in a position to get again on monitor a bit from there. He made 24 begins in that 2023 season with a 3.74 ERA. His strikeouts have been nonetheless down at 16.1%, however he lowered his stroll charge to a tiny 4.7% clip and obtained grounders on 46.3% of balls in play.
That was sturdy sufficient to persuade the Cubs to choose up their $16.5MM membership choice for the 2024 season, a transfer that appears regrettable in hindsight. Hendricks is slogging by means of the worst yr of his profession, which even obtained him moved to the bullpen for elements of Might and June. He at present has a 6.25 ERA in 118 innings over 22 begins and 5 aid appearances.
The numbers beneath the hood maybe present some hope for a bounceback. His 16.1% strikeout charge is an actual match for final yr. His 7.7% stroll charge is up relative to 2023 however nonetheless proper round league common. He’s nonetheless elite at limiting harm, with Statcast placing him within the 98th percentile when it comes to common exit velocity and 86th percentile when it comes to laborious hit charge. His 63.5% strand charge is the worst of his profession and effectively beneath league common. Metrics like his 5.17 FIP and 4.74 SIERA counsel he hasn’t been as dangerous as his ERA would counsel.
His market will naturally be softened by his monitor file over the previous few years, and since he’s turning 35 years previous this winter, however groups at all times want innings and there needs to be some curiosity. Past his efficiency, Hendricks has a robust repute as a clubhouse chief and considerate participant, incomes the nickname “The Professor”.
Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn, each of their mid-30s and coming off middling seasons, every secured eight-figure offers in the latest offseason. Gibson obtained a $13MM assure and Lynn $11MM. Different vets like Martín Pérez, Wade Miley and James Paxton obtained ensures a bit beneath that, every of them within the $7-9MM vary.
What uniform Hendricks dons subsequent yr will probably be decided within the months to return, but it surely’s attainable that he performs for a crew aside from the Cubs for the primary time. Drafted by the Rangers, he was acquired as a prospect within the July 2012 commerce that despatched Ryan Dempster to Texas and has been with the Cubs since then.
Chicago’s 2025 rotation at present initiatives to incorporate Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad, Jameson Taillon and Jordan Wicks, with guys like Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski and Caleb Kilian additionally within the combine. Prospect Cade Horton hasn’t pitched since late Might attributable to a subscapularis pressure however there’s nothing to counsel he received’t be wholesome by subsequent yr.
It could be troublesome to discover a spot for Hendricks in there, regardless of his sturdy repute within the group. Maybe that may lead him away from Wrigley, which might be a symbolic finish of an period for the Cubs. Hendricks is the final participant from the 2016 champions nonetheless with the membership.