Yahoo Sports Sources: White Sox to sign top free agent closer Liam Hendriks
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with closer Liam Hendriks on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, league sources said Monday. Hendriks is guaranteed $54 million whether the option is picked up or not.
The deal, the largest yet in a slow-moving offseason market, is pending a physical.
Hendriks, 31, had 14 saves for the Oakland A’s in the shortened 2020 season. He has 39 saves and a 1.79 ERA in the past two seasons — the best ERA of any pitcher with at least 75 innings. He struck out 161 batters in 110 ⅓ innings in that time. In his final appearance for the A’s, Hendriks pitched three shutout innings at the end of Game 3 of the American League Division Series for the win.
[Related: Analysis of every free agent deal of the offseason]
A native of Perth, Australia, Hendriks, represented by Matt Hannaford of ALIGND Sports Agency, was an All-Star for the first time in 2019, his ninth major league season, and in 2020 was ninth in AL Cy Young balloting.
Seeking to build on last season’s playoff berth, their first since 2008, the White Sox add Hendriks six weeks after trading for starting pitcher Lance Lynn, 22-14 with a 3.57 ERA for the Texas Rangers the past two seasons. The White Sox also signed outfielder Adam Eaton.
Hendriks replaces Alex Colome, who became a free agent after two successful seasons with the White Sox. Hendriks was the free agent market’s best available reliever.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers shared interest in Hendriks.
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