The White Sox strike late again, as Jeff Passan announced the White Sox’ official contract details with Liam Hendriks!
The contract details are fascinating, as Liam Hendriks is guaranteed 3 seasons on the South Side; however, the 4th year club option has a little twist. If the White Sox do decide to decline his $15 million club option in 2024, the White Sox can defer that money over the span of 10 years. This gives the White Sox a good amount of financial flexibility for years to come.
Liam Hendriks' contract breakdown with #WhiteSox:
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 12, 2021
$1 million signing bonus
2021: $11 million
2022: $13 million
2023: $14 million
2024: $15 club option or $15 million buyout.
So he is guaranteed $54 million over 3 or 4 years.
Without a doubt, over the past two seasons, Liam Hendriks has been arguably the best closer in baseball. In 2020, he won the AL Reliever of the Year award with dominating numbers. Hendriks posted a record of 3-1 with 14 saves in 25.1 innings pitched. He also had a 1.78 ERA, a WHIP of 0.671, and a FIP of 1.14. These stats are the best of Hendriks career, as he has been a little shaky outside of Oakland.
Hendriks’ turn around has a lot to do with his work with Codify.
Codify has worked closely with Hendriks over the past two years and is a big part of why he is the dominant closer he is today. Codify also works with White Sox ace Lucas Giolito and All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal.
Hendriks will join a stacked White Sox bullpen that already features lefties Aaron Bummer and Garrett Crotchet and dominant right-handers Evan Marshall, Matt Foster, and Codi Heuer. Without a doubt, this signing puts the White Sox bullpen at the top of the American League and potentially the entire league.
The White Sox will look to continue to add to their rotation and depth on offense as they round out their 2021 roster.
Featured Photo: Thatcher Zalewski (@tzalewski25) / Twitter
