The Cubs announced an extension with starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks that will pay the right-hander $55.95 million over four years. The deal also includes a team/vesting option for a fifth.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic breaks down the contract and it seems to be a fair deal for the Cubs and Hendricks. According to Jeff Passan if he finishes in the Top 3 in Cy Young voting the 2024 option will automatically vest, but if he doesn't it turns into a team option.
Hendricks has been one of the Cubs more consistent starters over the past few years with a 2.86 ERA in 87 starts over the past three seasons. Aside from a disabled list stint in 2017 due to a finger injury he has stayed relatively healthy and has averaged 176 innings.
Although he doesn't throw hard at all he is one of the best pitchers in the game at limiting hard contact. That, along with his excellent command, makes him a strong candidate to be a pitcher who will age well as he moves into his 30s.
It's a relatively cheap deal for the Cubs who will have to seriously start looking at extending some of their key players as they start to get closer to free agency. Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Schwarber reach free agency after 2021 and Willson Contreras and Albert Almora are free agents after 2022.
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