The Cubs are moving Kyle Hendricks to the bullpen for the time being, manager Craig Counsell told the team’s beat (X link via Patrick Mooney of the Athletic). Counsell indicated the team is hopeful that the veteran right-hander will be able to move back to the rotation in the future, but he’ll first need to improve his results.
Hendricks has been a starting pitcher for his entire career. For the first seven years of his MLB tenure, he was an unconventional top-of-the-rotation arm. Hendricks’ pristine command and ability to keep the ball on the ground more than overcame middling velocity and strikeout totals. He won the ERA title during Chicago’s curse-breaking 2016 season and picked up a pair of top 10 finishes in Cy Young balloting.
Things haven’t gone as smoothly over the last three and a half years. Hendricks posted a near-5.00 ERA in both 2021 and ’22. He returned from a capsule tear in his shoulder to turn in a 3.74 ERA over 24 starts a year ago. That convinced the Cubs to trigger a $16.5MM option for this season. While it wasn’t a particularly surprising move at the time, that’s a decision the front office surely wishes it could have back.
Opposing lineups have teed off on Hendricks through his first seven starts of 2024. He has allowed 37 runs over 30 2/3 innings. Hendricks has conceded 10 home runs and has a career-low 7.7% swinging strike rate. His 48.2% grounder percentage and 7.3% walk rate are each respectable, but opponents have put together a massive .362/.411/.638 slash line over 151 plate appearances.
A lower back issue sent Hendricks to the injured list at the end of April. Following a three-week absence, he returned to start a pair of games against the Pirates. Hendricks tossed five innings of one-run ball in his first outing back but was tagged for eight runs in 4 2/3 frames last week. Counsell acknowledged after the game that the Cubs needed better production from that rotation spot.
They’ll try to patch that together for the time being. The Cubs are planning a bullpen game on Thursday against the Braves in what would have been Hendricks’ spot. They’ll eventually need to settle on a fifth starter behind a strong front four of Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad. Righties Ben Brown and Hayden Wesneski are capable of logging multiple innings, and the Cubs could welcome back left-hander Jordan Wicks before too long.
A forearm strain sent Wicks to the injured list on April 28. Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune tweets that the former first-round pick will soon head on a rehab assignment after getting through a bullpen session this afternoon. While Wicks had a 4.70 ERA through his first five starts, a strong 25.9% strikeout rate offers reason for optimism that he can manage better results after being reinstated.
The injury news wasn’t all positive. Montemurro adds that reliever Adbert Alzolay is headed for a second opinion after being diagnosed with a flexor strain last week. Alzolay saved 22 games with a 2.67 ERA over 64 innings a year ago. He has had a much tougher start to the 2024 campaign, allowing 13 runs (nine earned) over 17 1/3 frames.
Cubs should do with Hendricks what the Astros did with Abreu. Put him on Waivers and send him down. He’ll go just like Abreu did. 16 million reasons why. He still wants to play after this he won’t sit on his sofa and collect.. Nobody is going to claim him and better yet if they do.
“Astros did with Abreu”…It’s very rare for an established player(5+ yrs service time)to agree to be demoted to the minors, but since he still draws the same salary, I agree with many of your points.
He’s still probably better than what they have as a swingman…
No you’re wrong. He’s not.
“He’s not”…I tend to agree; it’s not easy to accumulate -1.4 W.A.R in just over a quarter of a season.
Brown, Wesneski, Smyly threw 3 scoreless at South Bend tonight, Wicks going out for a rehab assignment soon, Any number of better options than Hendricks right now. Some of the injured pen guys should be coming back soon. Almonte, Merryweather, Brewer Cubs just need a couple guys to get healthy and they’ll be just fine.
Hendricks’ big problem this year has been the second and third time through the order. Of all the options, moving to the BP makes the most sense. Who knows, he might do well in one-two inning stints. He just came back from rehab starts in the minors so asking him to take a demotion is probably not gonna happen… Something else to consider is that yesterday Hoyer mentioned him having a future with the team after he’s done. I highly doubt they’ll release him. They obviously have a high opinion of him and I think rightfully so.
With the need to limit young pitcher’s innings, the Cubs could use him as an opener.
Hendricks isn’t a bad option for the bullpen if used properly. He doesn’t walk a lot of people, which is a big concern for our pen, and if he’s brought in after a guy who’s throwing higher velocity then he has the advantage of guys timing being off.
Except this year, he’s getting beat up the first time through the order. He doesn’t make it out of 3rd without giving up 5+ runs.
He really isn’t. He’s getting beat up the second and third time through the order.
He also has only given up runs in the first inning once all season.
It’s a different scenario because Abreu is under contract for 2025 when Hendricks is not. Looking at how the Cubs seem to have plenty of pitching they probably should simply cut him loose. Players are always underpaid early on and overpaid at the end it’s just the way it is he had a nice career.
The Astros optioned Abreu, not waived. But yeah, I think if Hendricks has a bad relief outing that is on the table.
They had to WAIVE him before they COULD option him and he had to clear which was a no brainer.
Hopefully the mindset is to put Brown in the rotation. Hendricks, being a guy that can fill up the strike zone, would be a good change of pace to bring in behind him. Go from seeing 97 for five innings to 88, if Hendricks just goes in their and throws strikes, doesn’t waste pitches, he would be difficult to time.
@drasco036: I think one of the main points here is that Hendricks isn’t a guy who can “fill up the strike zone.”
That’s why he’s being relegated to the bullpen.
Hendricks has never had an issue throwing strikes. His walk rate is higher this season than in the past but it’s because he isn’t getting guys to chase. He still throws a lot of strikes, so yes, he “fills up the strike zone”
Do you realize that you just contradicted yourself?
By definition, if he’s issuing more walks, he’s not throwing enough strikes. He’s throwing more balls and doing the exact opposite of filling up the strike zone.
Which is the crux of why he’s no longer starting.
An easy way to gauge if a guy is a strikeout pitcher and truly fills up the strike zone is to look at strikeouts vs. innings pitched.
Hendricks has 1,197 strikeouts in 1,480 innings pitched across his career, and in no season has he struck out as many batters as his innings pitched.
By contrast, Zack Wheeler, who is of similar age and MLB experience, has 1,472 strikeouts in 1,439 innings pitched across his career.
Wheeler struck out 247 in 213 innings pitched in 2021 and 212 in 192 innings pitched in 2023. That’s a much more elite profile for a MLB pitcher.
Nobody is mentioning Kyle Hendricks in the same sentence as Zack Wheeler when talking about pitchers who “fill up the strike zone.”
Glad you don’t know the difference between throwing strikes and striking people out. Working inside the zone is filling it up.
@drasco036: But it’s a nebulous distinction and a moot point if the pitcher isn’t striking out or at least retiring enough batters.
Zack Wheeler is an elite starting pitcher while Kyle Hendricks isn’t a starting pitcher at all.
Saying “but Hendricks fills the strike zone” is completely meaningless in this context.
Cool story. Try to stick to the topic on hand next time though since you’re the jerk off who brought up Wheeler, not me. No one has mentioned Wheeler at all, but you. I didn’t even bring him up in my reply, what going on in your brain? It’s like you’re arguing with yourself.
I’m sure you’ll find the need to reply to this since you have something wrong going on in your brain but understand this, I don’t care.
You might try to stick to the discussion on its merits instead of resorting to name calling and ad hominem attack because you apparently have no intelligent response to a reasoned argument.
Nobody confuses walking batters with throwing strikes but you. A guy like Wheeler can be mentioned as an example to counter such confusion in a reasonable baseball discussion, but you choose to stoop to personal attack instead of challenging yourself to think reasonably.
I thought I was arguing with a reasonable person, not just myself. Your hostile response indicates otherwise.
Perhaps a limited intellect prevents real back-and-forth reasoning for you, but I’m not judging because I don’t really know you.
However, if the proverbial shoe fits…
They aren’t going to DFA him when he collects 10yrs service time in ~30days. They should once he does or agree on return to phantom IL. For now they can hide him in bullpen and use in low leverage situations.
What is that his pension? The dude is rich….like really really rich……
“They aren’t going to DFA him…he collects 10 yrs service time”…It’s great that Hendricks has deservedly almost reached 10 yrs service time(and will almost certainly get it somewhere), but why would that compel the Cubs to keep him rostered if they end up needing a roster spot?…Is there something I’m unaware of?(I do realize he’s
a longtime respected & tenured Cub). Most teams usually put performance over sentiment, the St. Louis Cardinals notwithstanding.
St Louis Cardinals notwithstanding lol
You answered your own question. He’s a Cubs legend and this is the same team that let Dempster be involved in his own trade out of respect for a legend (whom did not win a World Series like Kyle). They’ll try the bullpen if they need another arm he’ll likely go to the IL before eventual DFA after he collects 10 years IMO.
@16: Why should they wait? It will be much easier to get rid of him now. He’s barely MLB caliber at this point anyway.
That could also work for another reason. If he goes to AAA and starts pitching well, there is a chance the Cubs could still trade him if they eat some salary. He’s more likely to appeal to other clubs as a starter than as a reliever. He’s not the kind of guy who’s stuff is going to play up in the bullpen. I’d keep him stretched out and cross my fingers.
Hendricks won’t be traded. People really need to stop thinking like this. Every fan thinks their garbage is something that other people covet
1. The Cubs have the #2 Farm System in MLB. And in a month and a half it’s going to get better.
2. You wouldn’t get anything for Hendricks that you would even be able to play in their Minor league System.
3. The Cubs are having enough trouble trying to find playing time for their OWN prospects right now.
4. The Cubs got Julian Merryweather for free last year. That worked out pretty well I think.
5. The other teams have scouts that watch Cubs games. If I can see he’s not very good, You think they’re going to go Hey, There’s a nugget.
6. The Cubs have a pretty good scouting system. So all these stupid trades like the one I saw in the Vasquez article where the dude wanted 4 top prospects for Mason Miller who’s spent more time on the IL than he has in a uniform are just ridiculous. I trust the Cub scouts to find someone that they might trade for reasonably. Tyson Miller for instance. He’s been good and well worth the price. In fact I think since he left the Cubs he’s dropped his arm angle and throws sidearm now and is throwing strikes. If only Cuas could figure that out.
You’re not getting anything for guys who throw 88 and are 35 years old. Everyone needs to get a grip.
I agree that Hendricks doesn’t have trade value right now. My comment is based more on a series of hypotheticals, beginning with your own…….
………..IF Hendricks were to accept a minor league assignment like Abreu, I would keep him starting. And…..
…….IF he started pitching well in the minors, other teams would be more likely to have interest in him as a starter than as a reliever. Some team might be willing to take a chance on him………..
……IF the Cubs paid down enough of his remaining salary. This kind of hypothetical trade could still have value to the Cubs, not necessarily in terms of prospect return, but in terms of payroll flexibility. If another team were willing to take on even 1 – 1.5 million of Hendricks’ salary, that would be additional operating room for the Cubs to make deadline additions without going over the CBT.
Lots of IF’s I know. But I thought that’s the kind of discussion we were having. Just a brainstorm of possible scenarios other than just eating the contract.
“Nugget” is interchangeable with turd. So maybe 🙂
Don: If the Cubs paid down his salary. That is just another way to say DFA. Any other team would be smart to say all but league minimum which is what would happen anyway. If they DFA him and another team signs him then the Cubs would save the league minimum. What do you get back in a trade like that? Hot Dog buns? Stale Beer? A plunger? Another teams # 1 prospect? If they trade him and he doesn’t want to go he just refuses to go. Like the other dude said, He’s rich. He went to Princeton. I’m pretty sure he didn’t gamble all his money on Bitcoin and Ohtani’s translator. My suggestion was just an alternative to releasing him and giving him a chance to pitch where he doesn’t hurt the MLB team. Not for any realistic trade possibility because there are none.
He went to Dartmouth, hence, why he is called “Professor” and not as an homage to Greg Maddux, although his former pinpoint control was reminiscent of Maddux’ cerebral style of pitching.
You are a Ok with fellow old guys like me!
He has enough service time that he can refuse an outright assignment and keep the money. So did Abreu.
The problem is he will not sit on the couch….The Cubs will send him down, but he will reject the assignment. Collect the 16 million and another team will pay him the league minimum to hope he turns it around.
At league minimum A LOT of teams will be willing to give him a chance at the MLB level.
The problem is he is close to being forced onto the couch at this point.
If they DFA and release him and nobody else is interested, there he’ll sit.
Happens to every player sooner or later.
This is true, it does happen to everyone sooner or later. However, there are teams like Miami, Colorado, LAA, and Chicago Whitesox that have nothing to lose by taking a flyer on someone like Kyle Hendricks for the league minimum. Especially if the Cubs DFA’d him today. One of those clubs could take a flyer on him at league minimum, hope to catch lighting in a bottle and then trade him at the deadline if he pitched well for the next 2 months for them.
A team WILL take a chance on him at league minimum.
Now as a free agent this winter it could be a different story.
No reason for teams out of playoff contention like those you named to add an aging pitcher, unless they want someone to eat innings.
Another 180w and he can join jamie Moyer on the “junkballer’s hof list” for voters.
biggest question should be can hendricks pitch past age 50, like Moyer to fulfill it?
Maybe with Oakland. Not with the Cubs.
He’s only 34 and he’s the precipice of not being able to pitch now. It will be a miracle if he can still pitch at 40, let alone 50. There’s now way he gets to 180 more wins.
Elegantly stated, but I agree.
I was joking but I’m not sure about LJS. Or unless he signs with Oakland and gets a Bionic Arm. But I doubt Fisher would spend the 6 million dollars for it anyway.
Sorry, 6 million was 1970 TV money Bionics. Probably more now. LOL.
He was hardly a junkballer. Just because you don’t throw very hard doesn’t make you a junkballer (at least by my definition).
Hope Cubs release him and he goes on to pitch another 10 yrs class act and a great trade for Dempster
@Wheeler Dealer: What makes you think he’ll go on to pitch even one more year at this rate?
Being a class act isn’t enough to keep a roster spot.
It may be if the GM said yesterday he feels Kyle has a future with the team when he’s done.
No team is going to a finished player active for that reason. They can just give him a job off the field.
On the other side of town, to the surprise of no one, Eloy just hurt himself again this time after stepping on 3b. This happens so often it’s actually comical.
Well he didn’t trip OVER it so he’s making progress at least.
That was looking like a disastrous trade and now it’s basically just a meh trade. The Cubs got lucky that Eloy turned out to be a creampuff
Nah, the Sox did well with Cease and got some prospects now. But Eloy looks like his option will be declined this winter.
You came to a cubs thread to report what you saw during a sux game while the cubs are playing right now? Ok.
I have the utmost respect for Kyle and the work he’s done for the Cubs, but I think he may be cooked. The crackdown on sticky stuff definitely affected his results. I really hope he can turn things around though and keep going till he’s 40
Don’t agree crackdown on sticky stuff has anything to do with it. They cracked down beginning of last year and he had a resurgent year. He just can’t locate this year similar to 21 and 22 for a guy that has no room for failure.
This guy was one of the standard bearers of how to pitch by locating and not just throwing at one time. Hope he figures it out because even though he pitches for a rival, it is nice to watch when he is on point.
What happened to the professor (apparently throwing slower than the entire league confers wisdom) schooling Skenes the new kid? Sign outside of Wrigley at one of those rooftop places
Cade Horton will be their 5th sp this year! ramp up his innings and call him up!
Maybe he can find a second life in the pen, but his 88 ERA+ since 2020 indicates he’s reached his expiration date.
I’m glad to see this. The Atlanta Braves did this many ago with one of their starters (I can’t remember who it was) and he ended up becoming a great relief pitcher. Maybe the same thing works for Hendricks.
John Smoltz and Kyle lack the talent, Smoltz had.
Still, he can be useable out of the pen.
Hendricks getting the Eckersly treatment could be the best thing for him.