Recently, the Boston Red Sox have signed several free-agent pitchers who ended up missing their first full seasons with the team.
The most notable case is Lucas Giolito, who arrived healthy but suffered an injury during spring training. Similarly, reliever Liam Hendriks joined the Red Sox while in the midst of recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Hendriks was a three-time All-Star with the Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox, and though he could never get healthy enough to return in 2024, hopes were high that he could be a high-leverage relief option for the Red Sox this past year. Instead, he had one of the more disappointing campaigns of anyone on the roster, struggling again to stay healthy and getting lit up when he took the mound.
Red Sox decline mutual option for Hendriks
On Thursday, the Red Sox declined their half of a $12 million mutual option that would have led to a reunion with Hendriks, according to a report from MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. The Australian righty, who turns 37 in February, is headed to free agency after receiving a $2 million buyout.
Mutual options are rarely exercised in Major League Baseball and are now mostly used as a financial mechanism to provide players with additional guaranteed money without it impacting the previous season’s luxury tax payroll.
In his brief stint with the Red Sox, Hendriks logged 13 2/3 innings, posting a 6.59 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP while surrendering two home runs and issuing seven walks. His last appearance came on May 27, before a hip injury sidelined him for what ultimately became the remainder of the season.
While rehabbing from the hip injury, which turned out to be an issue with his abdominal side wall, Hendriks also felt forearm tightness that resulted in elbow surgery, putting his availability for opening day in doubt, though one would imagine he’ll try to get back as soon as possible.
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