Several suitors want A’s closer Hendriks
Uncertainty lingers still over Major League Baseball’s free agency market as teams navigate an offseason dictated by pandemic- induced revenue losses. But some information is rising to the surface.
The Oakland A’s 2020 roster shed 10 free agents, and their financial restrictions indicate a majority of those players won’t return. T hat includes A ll- Star closer Liam Hendriks, who will surely be too rich for Oakland’s blood after putting together back- toback dominant seasons.
As arguably the best closer or late-inning reliever in this free agent class, Hendriks is said to have a long list of suitors. The Chicago White Sox have emerged as a top candidate, according to an ESPN report. The Toronto Blue Jays, who are reportedly in on most of the bigname free agents, are also interested in Hendriks. Among the other teams interested are the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Houston Astros.
Hendriks, 31, is asking for at least a four-year deal with a hefty yearly payout, per the report. The A’s designated Hendriks for assignment in 2018, and the Australian hurler returned in 2019 with a revamped slider and 98 mph-plus fastball that he spun into a 1.80 ERA in 2019, where he took over as the closer mid-season when Blake Treinen suffered an injury. He
managed to repeat his performance in 2020, posting a 1.78 ERA in 24 games.
Though the A’s and star shortstop Marcus Semien expressed desire to reunite, Semien could be on the move if he accepts a team-friendly contract. ESPN says many teams are interested in pursuing the 30-year-old Semien because he may not demand a ninefigure deal.
That’s appealing to teams with a shortstop need who see next year’s market featuring pricey middle infielders Javier Baez, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager and Trevor Story.
Semien may settle for a smaller, shorter contract and use it as an opportunity to re- establish himself in the market as the player he was in 2019. Though a number of teams are reportedly interested in
Semien, an eight-figure contract parameter could also keep the A’s in contention to bring him back.
Oa k land acquired Semien, Chris Bassitt and Josh Phegley in a trade that sent Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox in 2015. Semien struggled defensively in his early years with the A’s, but he evolved into a solid shortstop and one of the game’s most disciplined hitters, parlaying the work into a third-place MVP finish in 2019. His production dipped — along with most of his teammates’ performances at the plate — in a disappointing 2020 season.
With Brandon Crawford coming off the books after the 2021 season, the San Francisco Giants are reportedly among the handful of teams interested in Semien’s services. The Dodgers, Mets, Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies, Astros, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers are also interested.