White Sox closer Liam Hendriks underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the team. It's tough news for a pitcher who has been through a lot this year.
The 34-year-old right-hander announced in January that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His status for the 2023 season was uncertain, but Hendriks beat the cancer by April and made a remarkably quick return to the mound.
After five appearances at Triple-A Charlotte, he made his season debut with the Sox on May 29 against the Los Angeles Angels. He ultimately appeared in five games, going 2-0 with one save and a 5.40 ERA.
Hendriks last pitched June 9 and went on the 15-day injured list two days later with right elbow inflammation. That injury led to this surgery. I had heard reports of Hendriks throwing off a mound recently, but his velocity was reportedly at 93.8 mph. We know that's not ideal. When Hendriks is right, he can crank his fastball up to 97 or 98, no problem.
The recovery time for this injury and surgery is estimated at 12-14 months, meaning Hendriks likely will not pitch again until the 2025 season.
Will he still be with the Sox at that time? That's a tough question to answer because Hendriks has an unusually structured contract.
The team has a $15 million option on him for the 2024 season, which includes a $15 million buyout. If the Sox opt to buy Hendriks out, he would be owed 10 annual payments of $1.5 million until 2033.
So, Hendriks is getting another $15 million from the Sox one way or another. This comes down to how quickly owner Jerry Reinsdorf wants Hendriks' salary off the books.
Hendriks is a popular player in the clubhouse and in the city. He's among the more charitable players on the roster, and his victory over cancer has been an inspiration to many people. And he's been a damn good relief pitcher for the Sox.
Given those factors, my sense would say the right thing to do is to pick up Hendriks' option. Then, come 2025, offer him a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp, and see if he is healthy enough to earn his way onto the 2025 Sox roster.
But I'm thinking about what's best for the player and the team. Reinsdorf often looks at just the business side, so it won't be a surprise if Hendriks' option is declined. If that's the case, he's thrown his last pitch in a Sox uniform, and he'll probably get a look elsewhere in 2025.
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