The Red Sox were among quite a few teams that at least kicked the tires on Liam Hendriks this offseason. But they were willing to offer something not every team was: an opportunity to pitch this year.
Hendriks inked a two-year deal with Boston earlier this month after setting a Feb. 15 deadline to sign with a team. He’s currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery, which he underwent back in August, and is hoping to be available at some point around the trade deadline.
Some teams wouldn’t commit to Hendriks being able to pitch this season. The Red Sox were, and the reliever told The Greg Hill Show on Wednesday that helped seal the deal to come to Boston.
“The Red Sox were one of the teams that reached out pretty early on among, we probably had 15 or 16 teams that reached out,” Hendriks said. Everyone was interested in something similar with the deal we got here, that two-year deal, rehab this year.
“The Red Sox, the big thing for me, they were very adamant that I could pitch this year. That was a non-negotiable to me. The teams that said we’ll see how it goes – no, you’re out. I wanted to make sure I had an opportunity to pitch this year.
“Obviously, if a setback happens then we readjust. But having the option at the start to pitch in 2024 – and that was Brandon Henry the head trainer (for Boston) – he was like no, I don’t envision a place where you do not pitch for the 2024 Boston Red Sox. And that was something that was really important to me.”
The short-term outlook on the Red Sox is not overly promising. The American League East is loaded, and after doing little beyond adding Lucas Giolito, Vaughn Grissom and Tyler O’Neil this offseason, Boston opens the season as arguably the worst team in the division.
Such a scenario could be unappealing for a player like Hendriks, who certainly is closer to the end of his career than the start.
However, he doesn’t seem to be subscribing to the prognostications.
“As far as winning goes, I think Boston has always been a team that has overperformed what it says on paper," Hendriks said. "From the outside looking in, they always seem to have a hell of a lot more fun than a lot of other teams. They’re less structured, they go about doing their business but they always pull for each other. They’re more than the sum of their parts, where other teams you see what they are on paper and that’s pretty much what you’re going to get.
“Especially with (Alex Cora) down in the clubhouse, he’s a good guy that has done it before with several different teams, he’s seen the formula. You look at what the Astros do, they’re a really good regular season but when they get to the playoffs they’re an absolute animal. It’s a different, different vibe. Bringing that attitude over here, it’s worked out a couple times.
“I’m excited – and plus, let’s be honest, Boston has never had an Aussie.”
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