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| Liam Hendriks |
Here in 2020-21, we've got Lance Lynn starring as Jeff Samardzija, and Adam Eaton as Melky Cabrera. And ... introducing Liam Hendriks as David Robertson!
OK, I think Lynn is a better pitcher than Samardzija. And for all his limitations, Eaton is at least a more economical roster addition than Cabrera was. And Hendriks, the latest White Sox signee, is similar to Robertson in the sense that he was the best free-agent relief pitcher on the market.
Hendriks, a 31-year-old right-hander, was signed Monday to a three-year, $54 million contract. He will earn $13 million in each of the next three seasons. The deal includes a $15 million club option for 2024, with a $15 million buyout -- hence the $54 million in guaranteed money.
I don't want to make the same argument twice, so I'll refer everyone back to my previous comments on Hendriks. Hey, the guy has been an elite relief pitcher the past two seasons. It's reasonable to believe he makes the Sox better. He brings swing-and-miss stuff to the closer's role --13.1 strikeouts per nine innings in both 2019 and 2020 -- and that's an element the Sox bullpen has been lacking.
On paper, Hendriks is a better closer than Alex Colome, and I would never argue otherwise. Thing is, at $54 million, it's likely that Hendriks will be the biggest free-agent addition this offseason, and my concern overall has been whether closer is the appropriate position to spend money on. I felt as though starting pitching and right field were bigger needs.
The Sox filled those two spots with cheaper acquisitions in Lynn and Eaton.
Am I the only one who finds it fascinating that the Sox are willing to shop at the top of the market for relief pitching, while being unwilling to do so at any other position?
They ponied up for Robertson back in 2014-15, and now they made Hendriks their top target. However, they seem uninterested in George Springer, the best outfielder on the market, and uninterested in Trevor Bauer, the best starting pitcher on the market. It's frustrating and baffling to see the Sox not pursue those guys.
But, let me say this for the Sox: Who else in the American League is doing ANYTHING this offseason? Nobody, really.
Aside from the San Diego Padres and New York Mets, two National League clubs, the Sox are the only team that appears to actively be trying to get better.
Even though I wish they were doing more, they are at least doing something, so there's that.
Time will tell if this was the right choice. Many fans think that the Sox don't spend money. Here we are & the Sox are the top AL team spending money & adding players. Maybe they're not done. Time will tell. I for one can't wait to see the kids play.
ReplyDeleteThey really don't spend money -- at least not in 2021 terms. I'm sure the payroll looks big to Jerry Reinsdorf, because he thinks about the dollars that were in the game when he first bought the Sox 40 years ago. But the fact is they always have a below-league-average payroll, and likely will again in 2021. They have yet to prove they can sign an elite free agent to a nine-figure contract, although they should be poised to do so after years of miniscule payrolls during the rebuild. We'll see. This is an unusual year with almost nobody spending money. The big free agents are still out there because the usual spenders are, well, not spending. The door is open for the Sox to add more, if they look past their self-imposed financial limitations.
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