Despite being ruled out for all of next year due to recovery from Tommy John surgery, former White Sox All-Star closer Liam Hendriks has been in talks with several other teams in search of a new deal.
According to a report from Scott Merkin of MLB.com, one of the teams Hendriks has engaged with has been the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs.
Hendriks, 35 in February, is coming off a stellar three-year stint on the South Side, highlighted by two All-Star appearances and an eighth-place AL Cy Young Award finish in 2021, the same season in which he led the AL in saves.
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While Hendriks will miss all of his age-35 season in recovery from Tommy John surgery, the veteran reliever has shown no indication that he wouldn't return to the mound after recovery.
With a stellar resume as one of the game's elite relievers and a reputation as a positive force in the clubhouse, Hendriks appears as a prime candidate to score a two-year deal while aiming to be a bullpen contributor during the contract's second season.
As for a potential fit on the North Side, news of the Cubs' front office engaging with Hendriks shouldn't come as a total shock, even though he remains a year off from helping a team he may sign with.
With the Cubs' bullpen woes down the stretch that arguably cost the team a playoff berth, aiming for help that can contribute within the near-future while serving as a veteran presence for an otherwise mostly inexperienced bullpen could make Hendriks a solid fit at Wrigley.
Though signing Hendriks would provide a valuable clubhouse voice and a possible contributor in 2025, the Cubs still need plenty of bullpen help that can play a role in 2024 to elevate their chances of a playoff berth.
However, Hendriks' off-the-field attributes accompanied with the possibility of being a major contributor down the line make the White Sox fan favorite a seemingly good fit for many clubs.
While there's no guarantee that Hendriks will sign a deal this offseason, it's likely that the teams he has engaged with view his presence as a net positive, even with a season of no on-field contribution.
