Liam Hendriks

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports free agent closer Liam Hendriks has reached a deal with the Chicago White Sox.

Fantasy Impact

The contract is for three years and $39 million. However, both Hendriks’ fourth-year option as well as his buyout are worth $15 million, which brings the total value of the contract up to $54 million. The 31-year-old Hendriks has been fantastic in each of the past two seasons. In 25 1/3 innings during the shortened 2020 campaign, Hendriks posted a 1.78 ERA with an excellent 37:3 K:BB ratio. Expect him to serve as the locked-in closer for Chicago this year, which makes him a top-five reliever for fantasy baseball purposes.

Liam Hendriks is visiting the Blue Jays at their facility in Dunedin, Florida to meet with team president/CEO Mark Shapiro, according to Mark Feinsand of Fansided.

Fantasy Impact

Hendriks, who has been a lights out closer for the A's over the last two seasons, previously pitched for the Blue Jays in the 2014-2015. This is far from a done deal as the Dodgers and the White Sox have also been linked to Hendriks. His market is definitely warming up, though, and he's sure to get a well deserved multi-year deal with a contender very soon. Over the last two years he's compiled 39 saves with a 1.79 ERA and 161 strikeouts.

Liam Hendriks picked up the win on Wednesday when he allowed one hit with four strikeouts over three scoreless innings as the A's beat the Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS.

Fantasy Impact

Hendriks entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with the score knotted up at seven apiece and promptly retired the first three batters in order. Things got dicey in the eighth as Oakland retook the lead in the top of the frame but the first two Houston batters reached in the bottom half. Hendriks was able to end the threat, though, with a pop out, ground out, and a Josh Reddick strikeout, which caused the outfielder to snap his bat in frustration, to end the inning. He then retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to lock up the win. Oakland lives to play another day but they're still down 2-1 in the series.

Liam Hendriks picked up the save on Thursday in Game 3 of the A's Wild Card victory as he allowed just one hit with three strikeouts over a scoreless ninth inning.

Fantasy Impact

After looking very shaky in his previous outing on Wednesday when he threw 49 pitches over 1 2/3 innings, Hendriks looked like his old self. He gave up a leadoff single to James McCann to start things off then fanned the next three batters in order to shut the door. This was Oakland's first victory in a winner-take-all playoff game since Game 7 of the 1973 World Series.

Liam Hendriks looked out of sorts on Wednesday when he gave up two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk over 1 2/3 innings of work in the A's 5-3 Game 2 Wild Card win over the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact

Hendriks entered the game in eighth inning with Oakland holding a 5-0 advantage; there was one runner aboard and no outs. He ended up recording all three outs via strikeouts in the frame but also gave up a two-run homer to Yasmani Grandal and a single to Jose Abreu. He came back out for the ninth inning and recorded two quick outs but then gave up back-to-back singles and a walk before being replaced by Jake Diekman, who eventually shut the door on the White Sox. Despite throwing 49 pitches on Wednesday, A's manager Bob Melvin "guaranteed" that Hendriks would be available for Thursday's pivotal Game 3.