White Sox News: Team declines Liam Hendriks’ $15MM option for 2024

Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks will not be back with the team in 2024 on his current contract.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Friday afternoon that the White Sox have declined Hendriks’ $15MM option for the 2024 season.

The news comes one day after Hendriks was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year for 2023. Of course, Hendriks’ comeback during the 2023 season was a story that was larger than baseball as he defeated cancer and was able to return to the mound in May for the team.

From a baseball perspective, the White Sox made the smart decision to decline Hendriks’ 2024 option. Hendriks appeared in five games for the White Sox during 2023 before suffering an elbow strain. The White Sox announced in August that Hendriks underwent Tommy John surgery and will likely miss most of the 2024 season.

The Chicago White Sox have declined closer Liam Hendriks’ $15MM club option for the 2024 season thus ending his time with the team.

It would seem that Hendriks has pitched his last game as a member of the White Sox. Hendriks needs to be applauded for the leadership and courage that he had during his time with the White Sox. For a team that went from World Series favorites to 100 losses in just two years, Hendriks never shied away from any adversity.

In three seasons with the White Sox, Hendriks posted a 3.23 ERA while earning American League All-Star honors in 2021 and 2022. Hendriks also recorded 76 saves in his time as the White Sox’s closer while earning some American League Cy Young award votes in his first season with the team.

Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery and expected to miss most if not all of the 2024 season, Hendriks told reporters in August that he was looking forward to returning in 2025. It would seem unlikely that any team will sign Hendriks this off-season as he recovers from surgery but he could be an intriguing free-agent next winter.