10:35am: The A’s have announced Hendriks’ DFA. His roster spot goes to right-hander Edwin Jackson, who has formally been selected from Triple-A Nashville. Oakland also activated lefty reliever Ryan Buchter from the DL and optioned outfielder Nick Martini to Triple-A in his place.
10:09am: The Athletics will designate right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks for assignment today, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter).
Hendriks, 29, once rated as one of the better pitching prospects in the Twins’ minor league system but never cemented himself in the big leagues with Minnesota. After unsuccessful stints with the Orioles and Royals, he landed with the Blue Jays, however, and broke out as a quality bullpen piece in 2015. The A’s made a nice trade in sending right-hander Jesse Chavez to the Jays for Hendriks in the 2015-16 offseason, and he delivered two seasons of solid relief in Oakland. In all, from 2015-17, Hendriks notched a 3.63 ERA with 10.2 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9 in 193 1/3 innings in that time.
The 2018 season, however, has been an ugly one for the Australian-born Hendriks. He missed more than a month due to a right groin strain, and he hasn’t performed well when healthy. In 11 innings this season, Hendriks has allowed nine runs on 17 hits and seven walks with a dozen strikeouts. He’s allowed three home runs en route to that ugly 7.36 ERA.
Hendriks’ average fastball velocity is down two miles per hour this season (from 94.7 mph in 2017 to 92.7 mph in 2018), though he’s regained some of that missing heat since being activated from the disabled list earlier this month. He’s earning $1.9MM this season and is controllable for another year via arbitration to any club that either claims him off waivers or swings a trade to acquire his services.
most likely Edwin Jackson
Yeah, who is pitching tonight against the Tigers.
Relief pitching is a hell of a profession
He has not been good this year. Velocity was back in the last game. Maybe we can at least get someone to take his salary off our hands. Fingers crossed. He did a lot for the community here in Oakland.
As a Jays fan I was disappointed to see him traded. He made less than Chavez, had more years of control and Chavez didn’t become a starter when he arrived in Toronto. I hope Hendriks turns it around. He was overlooked in Toronto.
Liam, Welcome to Baltimore!
Get in line behind Anaheim
I wonder if Octavio Dotel will be there for Edwin Jackson’s start.
Dotel and EJ both got WS rings with the 2011 Cards. They were acquired in the same trade from the Blue Jays.
Nah. He’s probably throwing bullpen sessions to stage a comeback. He wants that record!
There’s a home for Liam in Dodger blue
Thirteen teams??!! Shocking he hasn’t played for the Mets yet. Couple more years he can come to the Mets, get injured and retire.
still hard to phathom the diamondbacks traded scherzer for jackson, part of 3 team trade, but how terrible.
The Dbacks also got Ian Kennedy, who was very good for them.