The New York Yankees are entering 2024 with a completely revamped bullpen.
With the departures of Michael King, Wandy Peralta, and Keynan Middleton, new faces such as Victor Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson have joined the roster. But even with these additions, the aforementioned departures have made the bullpen a bit of a question mark. The Yankees were also linked to elite free agent closer Josh Hader, but he wound up signing with the Houston Astros.
Given the current state of the bullpen, the Bronx Bombers are still looking for a reliever that can stabilize it. One of those options, however, could be with a team very soon.
On Wednesday, ESPN reporter Jeff Passan revealed that All-Star closer Liam Hendriks has set a deadline for Thursday to sign with a team. According to Passan, Hendriks has multiple offers on the table, but if he doesn't sign with anyone, he'll continue his rehab from Tommy John surgery by himself. In that case, he'd throw for teams in late July and sign for one during the stretch run; this would theoretically make him available to pitch around the trade deadline.
It's not known if the Yankees are one of the teams that made an offer to Hendriks. But it would certainly make sense for them to pursue the reliever, as he would be a fantastic addition.
The 35-year-old developed into one of the best closers in the league in 2019, and would be named an All-Star for the next three seasons (not counting 2020, which had no All-Star game). From 2019 to 2022, Hendriks recorded a 2.26 ERA and 2.13 FIP, 13.52 K/9 against just 1.77 BB/9, a 19-12 record, and 114 saves. That is elite production that the Yankees would love in their bullpen, even if there's no guarantee that he'd return to that form due to his surgery.
However, Hendriks' value goes beyond his stats. The Australia native would bring incredible energy to a team with his competitive fire and perseverance.
Regarding his competitive fire, Hendriks is known for his ability to electrify his team upon completing innings or save situations. His on-field demeanor is perfect for pitching in high-leverage situations, which is not only where he performs, but where he thrives. There's a reason why he's a popular candidate for being mic'd up during games; he brings infectious energy each time he takes the mound.
As for his perseverance, it is rivaled by very few in the league.
Hendriks had struggled as a starting pitcher in his early career, but showed his resilience by developing into the dominant relief pitcher he's known as today. Despite having his 2023 season cut short due to elbow inflammation and eventual surgery, it was a Herculean achievement for him to even pitch that season at all; he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January 2023, but completed chemotherapy in early April before becoming cancer-free later in the month. From there, he built himself back up and returned at the end of May.
Currently, Hendriks has the luxury of having multiple suitors, whether he decides to sign now or later in the season. But if the Yankees are interested in him, they should try to get a deal done as soon as possible, as they can assist in his rehab and have him ready earlier down the stretch.
Nonetheless, the Yankees should certainly be in the mix for Hendriks. His peak production speaks for itself, and the life he can breathe into the team when he's ready can provide the jolt needed for a deep playoff run. There is some risk involved, as Hendriks is in his mid-30s with no guarantee that he's still at his peak; also, there's no guarantee that his rehab will go completely smoothly and without possible setbacks. Even then, the potential reward outweighs these risks.
If the Yankees plan to go all-in for winning a World Series in 2024, bringing Hendriks into the equation would certainly help.
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