Red Sox add another ex-All-Star pitcher dealing with injury

Liam Hendriks.

The Boston Red Sox continued their confusing offseason on Monday, agreeing to a deal with relief pitcher Liam Hendriks.

It’s the second time this month that the Red Sox have added a former All-Star hurler who is nursing an injured arm and will miss most, if not all of the 2024 season.

At least Hendriks’ prospects are slightly better than former AL Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer, who the team signed to a two-year minor -eague contract in early February. Fulmer underwent UCL revision in his 2023 campaign with the Chicago Cubs and will likely miss all of 2024.

It was reported last Wednesday that Hendriks was going to make a decision on his future by the following day as to whether or not he was going to sign with a team. The other route would have been to continue his rehab on his own and throw for potential teams in July.

As was the case with Fulmer’s deal, Hendriks’ contract appears to be another sign that Red Sox fans should be looking ahead to 2025 before the 2024 campaign even begins.

Boston was already a last-place squad in 2023 and has said goodbye to the likes of designated hitter Justin Turner via free agency, starting pitcher Chris Sale in a trade with the Atlanta Braves and reliever John Schreiber in a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox’s biggest additions aside from Fulmer and Hendriks have been outfielder Tyler O’Neill, middle infielder Vaughn Grisson (in the Sale trade) and starting pitcher Lucas Giolito.

There have also been scores of rumors in recent weeks that the team could ship off All-Star closer Kenley Jansen.

While Hendriks’ on-field contributions in 2024 could be limited, fans can perhaps hold out hope that he can make for a feel-good story at the end of the year, or for a playoff-contending team in 2025.

The 35-year-old made his triumphant return to the mound with the Chicago White Sox last May after missing the beginning of the year due to his battle with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hendriks was limited to five appearances, however, as he soon went on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

If the Australian can show any of his pre-Tommy John dominance upon his return, it could make up for his months of inaction to begin 2024.

Hendriks was an All-Star in 2019, 2021 and 2022 and finished in the top-10 in AL Cy voting in 2020 (ninth) and 2021 (eighth).

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