The Cubs have already traded Joc Pederson and are expected to make several more deals before Friday’s 4pm ET trade deadline, but MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports (via Twitter) that top starter Kyle Hendricks is “definitely not being shopped” and that the team would only move him if approached with a strong offer.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer effectively confirmed earlier this month that an 11-game losing streak had pushed his club into seller territory. At the time, Hoyer spoke generally about keeping an open mind to moves “that can help build the next great Cubs team.” So while the Cubs may not be calling all 29 other teams and actively trying to find a taker for Hendricks, it stands to reason that a team could put together an offer that makes Hoyer & Co. consider parting with its longest-tenured pitcher.
Hendricks, 31, signed a four-year, $55MM contract extension with a fifth-year option a couple springs ago and is still not halfway through that deal. He’s owed $14MM both in 2022 and 2023, and the contract contains a $16MM option with a $1.5MM buyout. As of this writing, he’s owed $5.19MM through the end of the 2021 season, bringing the total sum he’s still guaranteed on the contract to $36.19MM (including the option buyout).
It’s a more-than-reasonable price to pay for a starter of Hendricks’ caliber. The right-hander ranks 16th in the Majors with 117 1/3 innings pitched this season and ranked third among all MLB pitchers in total innings during last year’s shortened season (81 1/3 frames). He’s worked to a solid 3.61 ERA so far in 2021 and continued to demonstrate some of the game’s best command. Hendricks has walked 4.5 percent of his opponents, and while his 17.5 percent strikeout rate is below both the league average and his career average, he’s had success for his entire career in spite of below-average strikeout numbers.
Hendricks has been one of the game’s most durable starters since breaking in with the Cubs back in 2014. He’s only had two trips to the injured list in his big league career: a 16-day absence for shoulder inflammation back in 2019 and a six-week absence due to tendinitis in his hand back in 2017. He made 12 starts during last year’s 60-game schedule, averaged 30 per year from 2015-19 and is on pace for another full slate of games in 2021, having already taken the hill on 20 occasions.
An oddity in today’s game, Hendricks averages just 87.4 mph on his fastball and hasn’t cracked even an 89 mph average since the 2014 season. He relies on that aforementioned command, strong ground-ball tendencies and gobs of weak contact to find his success. There are few pitchers like that in 2021, but he’s made it work for several years now. He probably won’t ever repeat 2016’s 2.13 ERA and third-place Cy Young finish, but Hendricks carries a 3.33 ERA through 714 1/3 innings in the five seasons since that third-place finish.
If the Cubs aren’t presented with a sufficient offer for Hendricks over the next four days, it seems likely that he’ll again see his name kicked about the rumor circuit over the winter. Hoyer has pushed back in the past on the notion that the Cubs are going to engineer a full-scale rebuild, but between the offseason Yu Darvish deal and Hoyer’s acknowledgment of change on the horizon this summer, it’s clear that Chicago is taking at least something of a step back. Hendricks would have even wider appeal this winter than he does at the deadline, when more clubs are viewing themselves as contenders and when many have reset the luxury-tax concerns that are currently hamstringing their front offices’ ability to acquire players on notable salaries (e.g. Hendricks).
mcmillankmm
So only dealing him if they can include Heyward in the same trade
windycitykid89
I highly doubt they’re going to trade Hendricks and add Heyward on top of the deal. The Cubs would get nothing in value for that.
mcmillankmm
Right, so they could trade away Heyward without having to eat any $$$…that was the point of the post
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DocBB
No one wants an overrated Hendricks…..
Dunk Dunkington
Please explain how long Hendricks is overrated?
DocBB
Hendricks is overrated. His FIP is 4.60 and his fWAR is only 1.0 He has given up the most hits in the NL and his WHIP is almost 1.30. Smoke and mirrors…..his contract isn’t cheap either. Owed $30M the next 2 years. Doubt anyone picks up his 3rd year option.
IACub
please stop relying on one statistic to value a pitcher. Yes, his whole game is smoke and mirrors.. FIP is a flawed statistics that values pitchers who have high strikeout rates. look at the weak contact rate, the barreled ball rate, walk rate, hard hit percentage. he is a very good pitcher when he has his command going
ChiSox_Fan
Overrated since he has been a Cubbie.
They all are.
DocBB
Got ROCKED tonight by Reds as well…ZERO VALUE
ABCD
And Willson ties the game with a solo shot! Kyle’s winning streak is still intact! Ha ha!
PutPeteinthehall
12-4 so far this season with more than two months to go. Easy 17 game winner for losing team. Overrated?
Cosmo2
Judging a pitcher by wins? Really? He’s good but you’re overrating him based on a stat that the entire baseball world agrees is terrible for player assessment.
ABCD
The win police, they live inside of my head.
The win police, they come to me in my bed.
CrownRocks
“Isn’t cheap”?
For one of the more durable starters in the national league his contract is an absolute steal! He’s ranked as the 16th best starter in the National League. Tell me how is overrated, or expensive???
Shane Newbanks 2
Boy you are going to be so salty when the Sox don’t even make it to the ALCS the next 4/5 years.
Wheeler Dealer
Guess you haven’t seen his career numbers
DocBB
LOL no one cares…he is over the hill
CrownRocks
Uhhhh, he’s 31 ♂️
Franco27
10-0 in his last 13 games.
DocBB
Rocked again by the Reds….FIP
Shane Newbanks 2
Rocked again? 7/4 he went 6ip 1er 5ks. All he does is 6ip with (usually) 3 or less runs. Any rotation in baseball would want him.
mike127
Easily the most underrated pitcher in baseball…..if you’re name isn’t Scherzer, DeGrom, Cole, Verlander, or Kershaw you are not in the team pitcher over the past five or six years. Hendricks is as good as anyone. Troll somewhere else.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
You spelled underrated wrong. He’s won 12 straight games. 3 ND within that time. He should get some Cy Young votes
Cosmo2
If he gets Cy Young votes the voters should be fired. He’s good, but no where remotely near Cy Young territory….1.5 WAR, leads the league in hits given up. I guess he IS a bit overrated by some.
gbs42
Doc, did Hendricks do something to you personally that resulted in your 5-6 comments about him getting rocked tonight and being overrated?
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
First time in a while. He wasn’t really “rocked” he just couldn’t get settled in.
windycitykid89
Clearly they’re not as dumb as you, because you’re pretty ****ing dumb.
PutPeteinthehall
You’re right. Pay 30 mil a year for a flamethrower that will be disabled for half of the contract. Why pay a guy that starts 30 games a season – every full season.
Lloyd Emerson
So would this be a trade non-rumor?
Voice of Reason
I don’t know why he wouldn’t be moved? He has great value right now. His contract expires in 3 years and he will be 34 at that time. Between now and then the Loveables won’t be competing.
DocBB
Hendricks is overrated. His FIP is 4.60 and his fWAR is only 1.0 He has given up the most hits in the NL and his WHIP is almost 1.30. Smoke and mirrors…..his contract isn’t cheap either. Owed $30M the next 2 years. Doubt anyone picks up his 3rd year option.
Voice of Reason
His career FIP is 3.64 and his career ERA is 3.17. I mean, if you want to go by just one year then I guess you could say he’s overrated. His career stats tell a different tale.
ABCD
He’s pretty much been vintage Hendricks since May 1.
Sideline Redwine
DocBB, that is what we call shortsightedness.
Do we say the same about Bellinger and Yelich? Both overrated according to this logic?
Everyone can have a tough half-season, or even a bad year. Judging on that alone is a bit nonsensical.
mike127
No sideline, that is what we call trolling.
Yep and say what you want about silly stats but he does lead the majors in wins. Not the Cubs. Not the division. The majors.
Colt 45
nothing silly about it – the best pitchers win games, LOTS of games, year after year, regardless of team winning%
gbs42
Is this an indictment of deGrom?
How about Nolan Ryan? He was 8-16 in 1987 when he led the league in ERA.
gbs42
And in strikeouts, ERA+, and FIP.
Colt 45
I was there for Ryan’s year. No, it’s not an indictment of anyone – over the long haul (and the great pitchers generally have a VERY long haul), the great pitchers rack up wins, and win %.
I love Nolan, but he had a lot of problems closing things out oftentimes. ’80 and ’86 post-season spring to mind.
DocBB
ROCKED again tonight. by the Reds…OVERRATED!!!
PaysonTim
Every staff needs an ace, even if you’re rebuilding. Hendricks is a plus person for the staff who makes everyone better, especially young pitchers. He’s an Ivy Leaguer who is very poised – unless he wants out or someone absolutely blows them away he’s not going anywhere.
The Natural
Fail to see the point of this article.
rct
Because this, from the article:
“MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports (via Twitter) that top starter Kyle Hendricks is “definitely not being shopped” and that the team would only move him if approached with a strong offer.”
… is a Major League Baseball trade rumor.
The Natural
It is definitely not a rumor about a trade.
rct
It literally is. The news/rumor is that the Cubs are not actively shopping Hendricks and that they’ll only trade him if they will get a haul. How is this *not* a rumor?
msa9167
Think the Cubs put this out there as to say “Hey we will trade Kyle, but it’s going to cost a lot!!!”.
Catuli Carl
I think so too. And that has to be the case if you’re in Hoyer’s shoes right now. No one is off the table for the right price.
Monkey’s Uncle
Maybe they are inactively shopping him.
BrewCrew54
Yawn.
YourDreamGM
Translation. He is more than available for the right offer. This is just pr for the fans. If he is traded someone must have blown them away with a offer!
YourDreamGM
I don’t have teams calling me to shop their players. But other than like 2 teams I can figure out who is selling and who would be available.
Monkey’s Uncle
I don’t have teams calling me to shop their players either… but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Wheeler Dealer
Everyone is available for a overpay
msqboxer
I guess news is slow to post something like this…
ABCD
Yeah, where are the effing trades? I know there will be a slew of them on deadline day, including a few Cubs.
Very Barry
The White Sox could step in and offer tremendous depth to the Cubs bad farm system for the rebuild. SP Jon Stiever could headline giving the Cubs a highly regarded starter. 1B Gavin Sheets, OF Blake Rutherford (former 1st rounder), RP Zach Burdi (former 1st rounder) and SP Jimmy Lambert. Could see all of these guys on the Cubs opening day roster in 2022 with the rebuild. Sheets is Rizzo insurance if he doesn’t take pay cut extension. Could sub in Jake Burger (former 1st rounder) for Sheets. Burger would replace Kris Bryant.
Cubsforever22
Not gonna be a rebuild clown. But hard to reason with your kind so whatever, enjoy getting bounced in the first round..
Very Barry
It’s ALREADY a rebuild ….. Clown!
Shane Newbanks 2
Rocked again? 7/4 he went 6ip 1er 5ks. All he does is 6ip with (usually) 3 or less runs. Any rotation in baseball would want him.
Shane Newbanks 2
It could be a quick rebuild though. Cubs only have 55mil on the payroll after this year. Cubs also have a few decent prospects that will be up next year. Pair that with a few decent free agent signees they could very well compete in 2023. If call this more of a retool than a rebuild.
Luke Nowak
I’m sorry your cubs “dynasty” that you expected fell up short, your team is over the hump and your not just gonna make some moves and be back at next year. Like all baseball teams sans the few exceptions like dodgers yankees and a few other, the cubs will need to rebuild. Prepare for another 100 years of losing
Wheeler Dealer
Can’t wait till Astros or A’s bounce Sox in first round LMAO
Luke Nowak
I’m not a Sox fan, I’m a cards fan that’s why I dislike the scrubs
ABCD
The Sox system is now depleted because all the top prospects have graduated to the big league club and all those guys will be needed to win. It is now ranked near the bottom. The Cubs farm system is middle of the pack with good depth.
The players you have listed are the chaff. The best of them are Sheets and Burger but they are not much to get excited about as they look like future DHs. All of the other ones are having bad years.
Very Barry
Did you see what the Pirates just got for Adam Frazier?????? Did you see what the Cubs got for Yu Darvish???? Stiever becomes the Cubs #1 pitching prospect. Sheets becomes the #1 1b prospect. Zach Burdi is a guy who may just need a change of scenery. Kimbrel replacement??? The White Sox at one time thought he was the future closer. Blake Rutherford is a guy who might even show some power in Wrigley Field. A lot of depth here that would move the Cubs farm system from being a mess to being middle of pack.
Dogbone
@Barry, striver, Sheets and Kelly ARE trade material. The rest including Burger, are worthless fillers.
mike127
Barry——how about you elevate Rutherford, Burdi, and Lambert and give the Cubs Kopech, Vaughn and Crochet instead? Oh, becasue the guys you listed don’t help anyone. Stop with the Rizzo pay cut trolling also.
Oh go ahead…..you’re muted so I won’t see that junk.
Luke Nowak
This for Kyle? Is that a joke. Vaughn alone wouldn’t be given up for him, there’s few players on the cubs I’d trade him for.
cars
Jed Hoyer would be an idiot not to trade Kyle Hendricks either at the TDL or this winter. The Cubs are rebuilding and look to be bad for at least the next 2 to 3 years. Hendricks wonderful numbers could decline on bad teams. Why risk Hendricks losing value. Trade him while he is at his highest value.
Very Barry
Got to move him. Gonna be a long rebuild! Farm system is a mess!!!!
Capi
Farm system is not a mess, it’s middle of the pack.
Dunk Dunkington
Farm has improved and getting stronger. cubs payroll will be around 55 million this offseason so it will not be a long rebuild and more of a reload.
Very Barry
No Difference-Makers!
Very Barry
Poor spending on the free agent market with a blank checkbook went a long way toward getting the Cubs to where they are now!!! Jason Heyward???? Tyler Chatwood???? “He’s got electric stuff” lol …… shall i go on????
Capi
Please… Do go on, but this time include the WS title and the fact that this could be the first season under .500 since 2014.
Dogbone
Hey Barry, hasn’t it been 10 years now, since the Chisox have won 80 games.
Kayrall
You guys should just mute Barry. He’s not commenting/discussing in good faith. His writing style is also quite similar to others that like to troll and sow discord in Cubs comment sections meaning he might just be a sock account for exactly this.
Very Barry
It was poor spending on the free agent market AFTER the title. Absolutely disasterous. Trades also horrific ….. but thank you for Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease ….. we will always love Jose Quintana on the South Side of Chicago!
Very Barry
Hitting with all facts!! Tell me what isn’t factual! I said the same thing about the Cubs BEFORE the season started! They were ALREADY in a rebuild. I also said the Milwaukee Brewers would win the Divsion ….. Look it Up!!!! I also said the Yankees would be battling for 4th place …. You Can Look It Up!! Facts! You may not like them …. but facts!!!
Capi
Jason Heyward does have a WS ring with the Cubs and gave a famous rain delay speech… So check those facts again.
Very Barry
Jason Heyward’s stats and his contract ….. don’t match! Bust!!!
Very Barry
Also check my comments BEFORE the season where I repeatedly told New York Mets fans that James McCann was a BACKUP catcher! You Can Look It Up!!!! Facts!
Cosmo2
McCann is a perfectly good starting catcher. He’s way better than most, if not all back ups.
1984wasntamanual
Trying to build your team through free agency is a terrible method. We’ve seen this over and over. Whether or not the Cubs’ FO wants to call what they’re doing a rebuild, they’re going to need to do it. They just don’t have the supply of young, productive, cost-controlled players readily available that a good team needs to fill in the gaps.
I’m fine with them needing a few years to tear it down and rebuild it. They were good for a decent window, but they had contracts and prospects fail that made it hard for them to continue to refill the ML roster. It happens.
DocBB
Hendricks is overrated. His FIP is 4.60 and his fWAR is only 1.0 He has given up the most hits in the NL and his WHIP is almost 1.30. Smoke and mirrors…..his contract isn’t cheap either. Owed $30M the next 2 years. Doubt anyone picks up his 3rd year option.
Nobody is giving anything good for that….
Very Barry
Also why I see the White Sox as the ideal trade partner here. Hendricks will come over and be our #4 starter behind Lynn, Rodon and Giolito. We are NOT gonna give up any of our top guys remaining on the farm like Jared Kelley, Colson Montgomery, Yoelqui Cespedes, Oscar Colas (The Cuban Ohtani), Matthew Thompson or Norge Vera. None of the Cubans, Cespedes, Colas or Vera have any desire to leave anyway. We have a lot of depth pieces on the farm the Cubs could use. Still even have a guy like Zach Collins. Contreras replacement???
Capi
You don’t give up your top prospects, you don’t get him… Simple as that.
Very Barry
I think Not!! They are gonna have to move him regardless of what they say. Yankees and Red Sox farm systems both also trash right now. White Sox can offer as good or better a package as anyone. We have enough depth …. we ain’t got to give up any of our top guys. Stiever. We will move Stiever. Stiever immediately becomes the #1 starting pitcher in the Cubs farm system. I have Stiever as our #5 pitcher right now behind Kelley, Thompson, Colas and Vera.
Capi
Then you don’t get him… The Cubs have him for at least 3 years.
ABCD
Zach Collins?! Jonathan Stiever?! Hilarious!
Tom Emansk1
If you don’t want to give up top prospects you’re probably shopping in the Zach Davies tier. Don’t go to Niemann Marcus expecting to pay JCPenny prices.
Wheeler Dealer
Better plan on giving up Kopech or Vaugh if you want anything decent, nobody is giving the Sox anything of value for junk
Very Barry
The things is …… We don’t HAVE to move ANY of our TOP guys in the Majors or the Minors! As it stands right now ….. we are absolutely STACKED with talent …… and can still write some pretty big checks in free agency if we so desire. We Ain’t Got To Do Nothing!!!
ABCD
Kelley has a 9.00 ERA. Thompson has a 7.00 ERA. Stiever has a 6.00 ERA. You’re proud of those guys?!
Cespedes, nice name, average player in High A. Majority of games as DH.
The other Cubans haven’t debuted yet.
Good system, Barack!
Very Barry
If Kelley, Cespedes, Thompson and Stiever were to become Cubs ….. they would comprise 4 of the top 6 prospects in the entire Cubs farm system. This system that some of you are calling “middle of the pack”. Minor League E.R.A.’s mean nothing. Kelley is year removed from high school. We are developing his secondary pitches right now rather than let him just dominate with his fastball.
ABCD
Quit talking out of your ass.
Very Barry
I am telling you FACTS! We are developing Kelly’s secondary pitches. That was the knock on him coming out of high school. Many had him as the top high school pitcher in the draft. Critics questioned his ability to add a pitch or two to his fastball. That is the focus right now. Not wins. Not E.R.A. Developing secondary pitches to get him into the White Sox rotation a few years down the road! Can you believe we got BOTH Kelley and Garrett Crochet in last year’s draft??? Geez ….. What a haul!!!
Capi
Then why would you want Hendricks if you’re so “stacked”?
Very Barry
Like I said ….. Hendricks would be nice to have as a #4 starter behind Lynn, Rodon and Giolito. Might be able to find a couple of starts in the playoffs for Hendricks. Otherwise ….. he will be one of the final pieces to the playoff bullpen.
ABCD
Kelley is the equivalent of Ed Howard, a 19 year old struggling in A ball. So, Kelley would rank no higher than number 5. Cespedes is probably the equivalent (and I’m being generous) of Christopher Morel (ranked #7). Thompson and Stiever would not make Cubs Top 10.
Luke Nowak
Kelley and Steiver are just decent prospected cespedes tho has good potential, he was the number one international prospect
iml12
According to fangraphs the white Sox wouldn’t have one guy in the cubs top 10 but I am sure you are right.
Very Barry
Why are none of these so-called FanGraphs studs being called up to the Big League roster???? Everybody else is. Why are the Cubs not dangling some of these so-called studs for some of the absolute bargains that can be had via trade right now????? Why are other MLB teams not calling to trade for these minor league “studs” in the Cubs system??? Wouldn’t Max Scherzer look good in the Cubs rotation? Are they not trying to “contend”? Whit Merrifield??? You get 1000% more value for your money on the trade market than free agency. Why were the Cubs, you know, the team that is NOT rebuilding, in on Adam Frazier? He is under contract next year. San Diego got him for a bag of used balls. Cespedes was the #1-ranked international prospect. Yet, he doesn’t crack the Top 10 for the so-called “middle of the road” Cubs farm system. OK! Jared Kelley was considered by many to be the top high school pitcher in last year’s draft, but he don’t crack the top 10 for Cubs. lol
iml12
Yes, I am sure you are better at scouting than fangraphs, I stand corrected. Why would the cubs trade young prospects right now? They have 75 percent of the roster going to free agency next year. Almost every site has the white Sox as one of the worst farm systems in the mlb. They graduated all their guys. Now we see if they can do anything.
BeeVeeTee
Collins is not going anywhere! Collins came up catching for Cease and Kopech in the minors. Granted this Collins first full season and had a lot of work early in the season with Grandal ailing knee and his recent operation.
It does not make sense for the White Sox to even consider trading for Hendricks and bringing him to the American League to pitch against a DH. Hendricks needs to stay in the National League where the Cubs should be on the phones with team like the Mets or Dodgers. It would be a huge blockbuster if the Cubs can pull off a nice package involving Hendricks with Kimbrel or Bryant or all team guys.
Dogbone
Zack Collins had to be winded by the middle of a game last week. He missed so many pitches and had to run back to the backstop, I bet he was dizzy.
Capi
You forgot to check his track record… He’s right there with guys like Kershaw, Cole, Verlander, etc… The past 5-6 years or so.
FunkyButtLovin
I think I’ve heard this comment before…oh yeah by you 5 times in this story.
Dunk Dunkington
Hendricks has an unusual rough start to the season and took until around mid May to get back to his normal self. He is no longer giving up the long ball like he was, reduced the walks, hits and overall has been a rock.
Also Hendricks is know to get better as the season goes along and a pitcher all contending teams would love pitching on the mound in October as he live for those moments.
This dude is not only not overrated but actually underrated.
Gwynning
Not my team… but I would jumpstart a Cubs rebuild by trading everything plus the kitchen sink. Move Baez, Brizzo, Hendricks, Willson, Kimbrel, etc. Restock the Northside farm and roll into the offseason with fresh books (outside of Heyward), fresh looks and go sign whomever you wish this offseason. Commit to the pot or get off the spot. Tear it down and rebuild it your way, Jed.
Capi
According to Hoyer, it’s not a rebuild and they will spend in free agency.
Very Barry
Jed Hoyer is once again telling you lies! This is a rebuild! They have holes at nearly every position. You cannot fill the number of holes they have in free agency. Cubs gonna sign 4 starting pitchers in free agency??? And contend for a World Series ring?????? With Jason Heyward still in the outfield???
Capi
Why would Hoyer repeatedly lie about that? He gains absolutely nothing
Capi
So… Let me see if I get your theory… Jed Hoyer comes home from work:
Jed: Hey honey I’m home!
Wife: How was work?
Jed: It was great! I got to lie to the fans again… They think I’m not gonna rebuild… Wait until they watch me trade everyone and get nothing in return… I can’t wait to see millions of sad faces mwahahaha!mwahahahaha!
And the scene ends with the camera zooming into his nose with his evil maniacal laugh.
itsgonnahappen
Nobody wants to admit they’re not going to win next season, but a full rebuild is so much better for a franchise than a non committed rebuild. Go all in and get everything you can.
Very Barry
Absolutely!!!! If you are gonna rebuild ….. Go All In! That’s what the White Sox did. So did the Astro’s. The Cubs did as well. Problem for the Cubs is that they promised the fan base “Multiple” rings. Rather than take that back …. they just keep telling the lie that they are not in a rebuild.
itsgonnahappen
Where’s the GIF of Jennifer Lawrence giving a thumbs up mouthing “OKAY”
Tom Emansk1
Translation: yeah, we’ll move him, but we want a haul.
nyy17 2
I often wonder if Pederson’s ancestors changed the family name from Peterson because they didn’t like the hard T consonant.
tstats
May I ask why?
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
That’s a huge mistake. They keep saying this is not a full rebuild. Trading your bear pitcher would be exactly that.
bigjonliljon
They’re not going to deal a pitcher of that caliber on such a cheap contract. And they believe that they’re just going to retool not rebuild, therefore he will be needed. I’ve been saying this for months but every one wants to think the Cubs will trade him. Not
Very Barry
They just did it with Yu Darvish this past offseason! Why would the Cubs flip Darvish, the Cy Young runner-up, when he is making less than half of what Trevor Bauer gets paid and only has a couple of years left on his deal? Why would a team that is trying to “contend” …… trade Yu Darvish, a legit #1 starter, who is making only like $20 million per year. A #1 starter for $20 million per year????? You traded him??? And you are trying to contend????
PaysonTim
A bigger picture thing to keep in mind…
Willson Contreras will be a free agent after next season. He has indicated that the direction of the team is going to play a a major role in whether or not he would agree to an extension. Contreras is competitive as hell. He is also the heart and soul of that team.
This is not going to be a full rebuild – if so they will have to deal Contreras in the offseason because he’s not going to stick around for it. The Cubs don’t play in the NL West or NL East where you have an arms race every season. The Central tends to be winnable.
Very Barry
It is a rebuild. And they don’t want Contreras to stick around because they are not trying to pay him premium dollars during a rebuild. You also don’t want to pay a catcher premium $$$$ at this stage in his career. This is when it all goes down hill.
mgomrjsurf
Another Cubs Trade about to happen Chaflin per Feinsand.
mgomrjsurf
A’s are getting Chaflin.
ChiSoxCity
The Cubs are officially the dumbest organization in baseball.
Cubs Dynasty
Hendricks’ fastball against the Reds today, was coming in averaging a whopping 86 mph. His breaking stuff perhaps in the 70’s.
Cubs Dynasty
Several comments coming through suggesting that Hendricks is overrated. I think he’s had a quite successful career. The guy is not a power pitcher. Yet has excellent command and control of his breaking stuff. His pitching mechanics are very good. Hendricks is aging now. Something perhaps our Cubs are considering during their double secret rebuild.
Cosmo2
Yea not overrated for his career. Some are overrating his performance this year, probably based on win total, which is pretty absurd in this day and age.
Cubs Dynasty
Well, maybe. It looks like Hendricks is quietly having a pretty good year on a team that is struggling to be at 500. 12-4 is 12-4. That being said, his output appears to be typical. As a side, I cringed at the start when the Cubs made Hendricks their ace. Then followed that up by adding Arietta. Those moves, among others, told me there was a bad moon rising. We are experiencing it now.
Cosmo2
12-4 is 12-4 but it tells us very little about Hendricks’ actual performance.
Cubs Dynasty
I just look at his stats. Everything appears typical unless I’m missing something. To me, the 12-4 merely highlights his several games run of success actually since May and through July. He’s giving the team his expected six innings almost every outing. I try and keep in mind the guy is aging.
Very Barry
I am really starting to like the idea of Hendricks to the White Sox. I like the idea of going into the offseason and having both Hendricks and Dallas Keuchel to dangle as trade bait for more kids or spare parts. White Sox rotation will still be set with Lynn, Rodon (we will resign him), Giolito, Cease and Kopech. Hendricks is a luxury item for the White Sox that isn’t a must-have, but could be fun to play with. Hendricks gets another ring before we ship him off. I think a package headlined by Stiever gets it done. Stiever is an Indiana University alum. Wrigleyville feels like you are walking around the IU campus sometimes with all the alums. They will love him. Stiever, Sheets, Rutherford, Burdi and Jimmy Lambert.
Capi
If there’s not a top 50 prospect included for Hendricks, it won’t happen.