Liam Hendriks of the Oakland Athletics and Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers have won the Reliever of the Year Award in their respective leagues, per MLB.com (via Twitter).
Hendriks takes home the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever Of Year Award after saving 14 games in 24 appearances with a 1.78 ERA/1.14 FIP and 13.1 K/9 to 1.1 BB/9 across 25 1/3 innings. It was the second consecutive stellar campaign for the native Australian. He posted a 1.80 ERA/1.87 FIP in 75 games (85 innings) while notching 25 saves in 2019. In the postseason, he impressed with a scoreless 3-inning outing with the season on the line in game three of the ALDS against Houston. Unfortunately, it would be his final appearance of the year, as Oakland would bow out of the postseason tourney in the next game.
Hendriks becomes the first A’s player to win the award, which replaced the Rolaids Relief Award in 2014. It’s particularly good timing for Hendriks, as the 2019 All-Star heads into free agency this winter at the pinnacle of his career.
Williams takes the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever Of The Year Award from his teammate Josh Hader, who won the previous two seasons. It’s quite the achievement for the unheralded rookie, who rode his trademark change-up to a 0.33 ERA/0.86 FIP in 27 innings across 22 games with an absurd 17.7 K/9 to 3.0 BB/9 in 2020. The 26-year-old unfortunately missed the playoffs due to right shoulder soreness. He’ll be one of the more interesting cases to track next season, assuming a return to the standard 162-game season.
Well deserved by both
Congrats to Devin “Filthy Change” Williams!!
The Brewers are gonna trade Hader and move Williams to the closer spot.
Not until they know the issue with his shoulder is not serious. But man what a haul they could get for Hader.
Or they could keep both and basically play to win in 7 innings. Takes pressure off the starters as well.
They said at the time that had the Brewers survived the first round Williams would have been activated for divisional round. So they’re pretty confident he’s fine. There’s no guaranty Hader will be traded. They’ll deal him if the return is what they are looking for. and that would have to include one pre-arby quality bat.
This is going to be an iffy off season!! Covid, uncertainty of fans in the stands for 2021, lack of 2020 gate receipts, plus all of the other fabricated excuses that teams like the current Cardinals use.
Players are definitely going to be at a disadvantage.
I really think we’re going to see some very creative contracts this season. Free Agents, are not going to get the big contracts unless they are a superstar player.
Players aren’t going to accept multi year contracts at below value prices— unless negotiable clauses are included as a yearly feature.
It’s going to be very interesting chess games.
He has left the office in his office
The police police the police.
Too bad Williams missed the postseason. :(
He was busy attending a yawning festival.
St.Louis should be proud to have someone win an award although they’re not on the Cardinals.
Great trade by the A’s to pick up Hendricks from the BlueJays. As usual the Jays got fleeced.
Wish we could say the same about the Donaldson trade
Brett Lawrie says hi.
every jays fan knew that was a lost trade the moment it happened. Hendricks was solid has last year in Toronto
Instead of hating on the Jays, why not just be happy for Hendriks and the A’s. It’s a fantastic story.
I can’t believe none of the Red Sox or Phillie bullpens got any votes.
Williams wins reliever of the year without a save. Has that happened before?
Williams for RoY
If there’s a top free agent I could see LAD spending on, it’s not Bauer, it’s Hendricks
Not a bad thought. Just wondering how many years the Dodgers would be willing to go on a reliever who will be 32 by opening day. Friedman is a master at managing payroll and has a lot coming off the books in the next two years, including relievers Treinen and Baez this year and Jansen and Kelly next. You can bet AF will do something to address the bullpen. Adding Hendricks and the less-pricey Anaheim native Justin Wilson would seem to make sense, with Hendricks closing and Wilson replacing the injured Caleb Ferguson as a lefty option.
Just feels like if there’s one place Friedman has shown he will spend, its pitching. Kelly got 3 years+option going into age 30/31. Kenley signed thru age 34 at high dollars
La would probably prefer a 3 year deal, Hendricks probably aims for 4 like Pomeranz. With weird free agent market, maybe he’s held down. Flip side, if no QO, maybe LA is willing to give that extra year because he won’t cost a pick. Either way, he feels like a truly elite upgrade to this team and there’s not many spots you can pinpoint on this team. It also gives natural reason to let Kenley walk next year
I know sample size & all that for the shortened season, but Williams put up video game numbers