Cubs Sign Hendriks to Minor League Contract

The Chicago Cubs have signed veteran right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, to a minor league contract as they address ongoing injuries to their pitching staff.

The agreement, reached on Wednesday, provides the Cubs with a low-risk option to bolster depth in their bullpen and rotation. Chicago has been plagued by multiple injuries this season, including season-ending ulnar collateral ligament surgery for reliever Porter Hodge and stints on the injured list for Hunter Harvey, Riley Martin and Caleb Thielbar. The team recently shifted Ben Brown back into a starting role to help fill gaps.

Hendriks, 37, brings a wealth of experience from 14 major league seasons, including 116 career saves in 218 appearances. He began his career with the Minnesota Twins in 2011 and later pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics, earning his first All-Star nod in 2019 with Oakland. Hendriks joined the Chicago White Sox ahead of the 2021 season, where he excelled as a closer, making the All-Star team in 2021 and 2022 while converting 75 saves over those two years with a combined 12-7 record.

His career faced significant setbacks starting in 2023....